Key facts
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gifted Donald Trump a personalized, gold-plated revolver and ammunition.
- The gift was presented during Trump's attendance at the recent Nato summit in Ankara.
- Trump's revolver was unique among those given to Nato leaders for its gold-plated grip.
- The weapon is identified as a Gumusay .357 Magnum, presented in a custom wooden box.
- US federal regulations may require Trump to surrender the gift or pay its assessed value.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented Donald Trump with a personalized, gold-plated revolver and ammunition during Trump's visit to Ankara for the recent Nato summit. Multiple sources familiar with the matter reported that while Erdogan gifted similar personalized revolvers to all attending Nato leaders, Trump's was the only one noted to have a gold-plated grip.
The weapon is described as a Gumusay .357 Magnum revolver, presented in a wooden box adorned with the Turkish flag and Nato logo. A placard inside the box identified the firearm as the first revolver-type handgun produced in Turkey. The White House did not provide a comment when questioned about the gift.
This exchange occurs amid a period of strengthening relations between Erdogan and Trump. An unnamed US official recently characterized their relationship as having a "special chemistry" that has fostered deeper ties between Washington and Ankara. The Trump administration is anticipated to lift sanctions imposed on Turkey under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) due to Ankara's 2019 acquisition of Russia's S-400 missile defence system. Furthermore, Trump is expected to facilitate a deal for the transfer or sale of the S-400 system to a Gulf state, with the United Arab Emirates being a potential buyer, aiming to resolve the dispute over Turkey's possession of the system.
This development aligns with improving US-Turkey relations and Turkey's strategic focus on expanding defense exports. Data from the Small Arms Survey indicates Turkey was the world's third-largest exporter of small arms between 2019 and 2024, with exports totaling approximately $3 billion over that period.
Under US federal regulations, foreign gifts valued over $525 are considered government property unless the recipient reimburses the government for the assessed value. Consequently, Trump may be required to either relinquish the revolver to the US government or pay its assessed worth if he wishes to retain it. The gift has drawn attention due to Trump's known preference for gold-colored decor, evidenced by renovations during his presidency that included gold-colored ornaments in the Oval Office. Notably, Erdogan is not the first foreign leader to present Trump with a gold-plated firearm; in 2019, then-Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis gifted him a limited-edition gold-plated CZ 75 pistol.