SINGAPORE: On Wednesday (Oct 29), Prime Minister Lawrence Wong gave United States President Donald Trump a customised RSAF bomber jacket, a gift that met the approval of many who commented on a Facebook post showing the two leaders in a photo holding the gift.
PM Wong is in South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings this week, which end on Saturday (Nov 1). He wrote in his post that along with the President of Korea, President Lee Jae Myung, and other country leaders, at a dinner to welcome Mr Trump.
“Singapore values our security partnership with the US, and I conveyed our deep appreciation for America’s long-standing support of our SAF training in the US. As a small token of this partnership, I presented President Trump with a customised RSAF bomber jacket — just like the ones worn by our pilots training in the United States!” wrote PM Wong.
The gift went over well with Singaporeans online, a number of whom pointed out the US President’s big smile in the photo as he and PM Wong held up the jacket.
“A genuinely natural smile on Trump is seldom seen. Fantastic job, PM Lawrence. We can see and feel your genuine heart for the nation! Shalom!” a commenter wrote.
Others called the gift a “symbol of friendship, trust, and enduring partnership,” “meaningful,” and even “cool.”
A Facebook user noted in a positive way how “modest” the gift of the RSAF bomber jacket is, which may be particularly apt, given the other offerings the US President was presented with.
In an ironic turn, given the well-attended “No Kings” demonstrations in the United States earlier this month, the President of the Republic of Korea presented Mr Trump with a replica of a golden crown said to have been worn by one of his country’s ancient rulers.
President Lee also gave his US counterpart the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, his country’s highest decoration, in the form of a shiny, ornate necklace.
Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, meanwhile, gave Mr Trump golf balls covered in gold leaf, the putter of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as well as a golf bag signed by Hideki Matsuyama
Earlier this year, the royal family of Qatar offered President Trump a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet, said to be valued at around S$520 million.
Online chatter
Many Reddit users also praised PM Wong’s gift.
“It is actually a very intelligent gift. It is a subtle reminder to Trump that we are spending lots and lots of money on US military hardware – F-35s in this case, note the sleeve patch. Which is what this guy cares about the most, i.e,. people spending their money on and/or in the US,” one wrote.
Another wrote that an overly expensive gift would have been “bad optics” for the government.
A commenter called it a “correct move by LW.”
One noted that Mr Trump’s smile when he received the jacket was “bigger than when he received SK’s tribute.”
“Singapore does not need to give cheesy gifts,” another added. /TISG
Read also: Trump and South Korea’s Lee seal contentious $350 billion trade pact
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