In a high-profile meeting at the White House on Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba presented former President Donald Trump with an extravagant gift—a golden samurai helmet.
The impressive piece, known as the “Eternal Helmet,” was hand-crafted in Japan and symbolized strength, honor, and resilience. Ishiba, 68, specifically chose the gold design to align with the growing international popularity of the FX/Hulu historical drama Shogun, which has captivated audiences with its depiction of Japan’s feudal era, according to Japanese news outlet Kyodo News.
The helmet was commissioned from a specialty workshop in Tottori, Ishiba’s hometown. Tomoya Hanafusa, president of Ningyouno Hanafusa Co., revealed that his company received the order from Japan’s Foreign Ministry back in November—just a month after Ishiba took office. At the time, he was unaware that the piece would be gifted to Trump, but upon learning the news, he expressed pride and gratitude, calling it an “honor” for his firm to create such a distinguished gift. The helmet is valued at over $1,000 (approximately 168,000 yen).
Trump, 78, reciprocated the gesture with a signed copy of his Save America picture book. The book, which features a cover photo of Trump taken after the failed assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, last summer, is part of his continued push to document and promote his political movement.
This isn’t the first time a Japanese leader has gifted Trump a high-value item. In 2016, the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in 2022, presented Trump with a golden-painted golf club worth $3,755. During Trump’s first term in office, Abe also gifted him a $3,040 driver and a $460 putter—gestures that highlighted the diplomatic relationship between the two nations.
Under U.S. federal law, officials are restricted from keeping personal gifts from foreign governments if they exceed $415 in value. Typically, such items are transferred to the National Archives or the General Services Administration.
Ishiba’s high-profile visit comes amid rising global tensions and ongoing discussions about trade policies. Trump, known for his “America First” stance, has been vocal about imposing tariffs on neighboring countries and China to strengthen U.S. manufacturing. During their meeting, both leaders reportedly focused on trade relations, with Ishiba looking to ensure stability in economic agreements between Japan and the United States.
Ishiba’s gift also follows a notable exchange between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the week. Netanyahu gifted Trump with a symbolic “golden pager,” a reference to the pagers used in Israel’s military operations to target and eliminate terrorist threats. In return, Trump gifted Netanyahu a framed photo of the two leaders from their historic meeting, inscribed with the words: “To Bibi, a great leader.”
As for the golden samurai helmet, the White House has yet to comment on whether Trump will keep the gift or transfer it to federal storage. Regardless, the meeting served as another reminder of the unique and sometimes extravagant nature of diplomatic exchanges between world leaders.
