An expensive bottle of whiskey that the former US Secretary of State received from Japan without leaving a trace outside the country

The disappearance was first noted by the New York Times in an annual department survey of all donations received by top US officials. Gifts over $390 (€330) are all collected in that overview, but the location of the whiskey bottle is “unknown”. A spokesman for Pompeo declined to comment on the missing drink.

According to the British newspaper, The Guardian, the overview shows that Pompeo also received two rugs worth a total of $19,400 (16,400 euros) from the president of Kazakhstan and the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates.

Former President Donald Trump and his wife Melania received gifts worth more than $120,000 ($101,000) from foreign leaders in 2019. At least three countries – Australia, Egypt and Vietnam – submitted a picture of the former president of himself. These paintings were collectively valued at more than $10,000 (8,500 euros).

All gifts, including personal photos, have been transferred to the National Archives. Civil servants have the option to keep the gift they received, but this is only possible if they pay for it.