Diamonds exempted from tariffs after lavish gift to Trump

This is what Donald Trump calls the Freedom 250 ring.It's about the size of a watch, and it's from the Antwerp World Diamond Center in Belgium.It was presented in a big ceremony in Brussels as a gift to President Trump in June.

Now, I mean, folks, listen, they put on a big show to really hype this thing up.And folks, it's pretty clear that a lot of thought and effort and attention and care went into making this ring.It has a hand -crafted presidential seal and other intricate details in 18 -carat gold, baby.And it is encrusted with a whole lot of gemstones.I mean, this massive ring, you ready?Has 321 diamonds in it, 56 sapphires, 13 emeralds, and six rubies.

A little short on the rubies, I think.And while it was designed for America's anniversary, you know that little birthday party that we had for ourselves?It's inscribed with the numbers 45 and 47, representing Donald Trump's two terms.

It also has a giant T made out of diamonds on the side of it.Not only that, oh, there's more, but the engraving on the interior of the ring reportedly says that it was, quote, crafted in Antwerp for Donald John Trump, end quote.So this diamond group clearly gave Trump a pretty serious gift, personal gift to Donald Trump.And wouldn't you know it, Just a few weeks later, Europe's diamond industry got some special treatment from President Trump, as the New York Times reports natural diamonds, like the ones used in that ring, have been exempted from Trump's latest round of tariffs.Oh, really?The move follows months of sustained advocacy by that diamond group in New York.

which dominates the global industry.

So now that ring started to make a little bit more sense.

Now, look, we don't know for sure that that lavish gift was the reason Trump just happened to make a carve out for the diamond industry and all those tariffs he was imposing.But we do know that the best way to get Trump's attention is with something that is gold and shiny and has his name on it.