Anthony Albanese admits regret over ‘school fete’ gifts for world leaders
Australia's leader has revealed the awkward truth behind diplomatic gift exchanges, confessing some presents were worth just $10.
Anthony Albanese says he has regretted some of the gifts he’s exchanged with other world leaders, saying some seemed to have been bought “at a school fete for $10”.
The Prime Minister appeared in a lighthearted segment on Ten’s comedy panel show The Cheap Seats on Tuesday night, where they reflected on his big year where he scored a landslide election win.
He also met with new Pope Leo XIV, King Charles III and US President Donald Trump, among other world leaders.
“We do love when you meet these leaders. You often come bearing a gift for them. Is there a discussion? How do you work out what the perfect gift is for the King or the Pope for example?” host Tim McDonald asked the PM who crossed in from Bunbury in WA.
“The truth is Australia sometimes is pretty ordinary in our gifts,” Mr Albanese said.
“Other countries tend to be far more generous.
“It is something I have raised when we gave a gift where I got a wonderful gift from one of the world leaders, I won’t name them here, and we gave back something that I thought was really bought for sort of $10 at the school fete.”
When asked if he had ever thought to drop in the receipt, Mr Albanese replied: “No, no, no. The Marrickville Public School fete doesn’t distribute that.”
“The good thing about the gift exchanges is that normally they take place not directly and so you don’t know what it is that you’ve given and that you get back in return,” he said.
When he finally met the US President, he gave Mr Trump a model submarine, a necklace for his wife Melania and some Ugg bootees for his newest grandchild.
“An interesting choice when you presented Trump and said you got him a model. Did he think you meant something else,” McDonald asked, before the PM smiled and said “no”.
Mr Albanese will be heading to another meeting of world leaders at the G20 in South Africa at the end of the week.
Originally published as Anthony Albanese admits regret over ‘school fete’ gifts for world leaders
Viral moment of unity after Bondi massacre
