President Biden on Wednesday gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a custom-made version of one of the commander in chief’s signature accessories: a pair of aviators.
The sunglasses, given to Putin following the two leaders’ first face-to-face meeting in Geneva, were made by Randolph USA, according to a White House official.
The company produces aviators designed for American military fighter pilots.
In addition to the shades, a White House official said Biden gave Putin a crystal sculpture of an American bison, the national mammal of the United States.
“The sculpture will be presented on a cherry wood base, symbolic of our nation’s first president, George Washington, with a custom engraved inscription plaque commemorating the meeting between President Biden and President Putin,” the White House said.
It’s customary for world leaders to exchange gifts following most summits.
During a 2018 news conference, Putin gifted then-President Trump a soccer ball and told him after tossing it his way, “Now the ball is in your court.” Trump gave Putin Washington Capitals hockey player Alexander Ovechkin’s jersey.
Biden, 78, is known for sporting the classic Ray-Ban eyewear.
“My lord, I’ve been wearing aviators since I was a freshman in college as a lifeguard,” he said in a 2016 interview.
In a Time magazine cover released ahead of his meeting with Putin, an illustrated image showed Biden wearing the shades with the Russian president framed in his lenses.