Anthony Albanese gave Donald Trump a model of a nuclear submarine with gold plates and finishes, internal documents reveal, during his visit to the White House last year, which sealed the president’s support for the Aukus pact.
The prime minister also gifted Trump’s wife, Melania, a $3,000 Paspaley pearl pendant.
The information, obtained by Guardian Australia from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet after a four-month freedom of information process, revealed more about the delicate diplomatic planning and charm offensive that went into Albanese’s long-awaited first face-to-face meeting with Trump.
Department “gift” documents reveal that Albanese arrived at the White House carrying a two-foot-long Virginia Class model submarine, mounted on a gold-plated base, and a pearl necklace from one of Australia’s most famous jewelers.
Albanese had previously stated that he had gifted the Trumps a model submarine and jewelry, but at the time, neither Albanese’s office nor his department revealed any further information about the gifts.
Other world leaders and business titans have showered Trump with expensive gifts, often gold. FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented Trump with a gold medal and a gold trophy for a newly created “peace prize”; Apple CEO Tim Cook gave Trump a glass disc with a gold base; The president of South Korea presented him with a gold crown; while a group of Swiss billionaires gave him a gold watch and an engraved gold bar.
The Department of PM&C’s “gift form” documents show that Albanese gifted Trump a model “24” (61 centimeters) Virginia-class submarine. The value was estimated at zero dollars, and the gift form stated that “the submarine model was provided in kind by DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade).”
Virginia class “24” submarine model assembled with gold spacers. Custom made base with gold finish. (6.5” x 29.5” x 3/4” high with beveled edge detail (45 degree angle)),” the description reads.
“Angled plate blocks with gold plates/black data printed.”
A photo of the submarine with the gift form shows a black model on a gold base, with writing engraved on gold plates installed on the base. However, the photograph released by the department through FoI is of low quality, making the text illegible. The PM&C department has been contacted for comment, as has Dfat on the supply of the submarine model.
Highlighting Albanese’s agenda in his first meeting with Trump was the Aukus pact, under which the United States will sell Australia at least three Virginia submarines, while local manufacturing is built to produce Aukus-class submarines in Adelaide. US-crewed Virginia submarines will also rotate through Australian ports.
American shipyards need to build Virginia-class submarines at a rate of two per year to meet the United States’ own needs, and increase that figure to 2.33 ships per year to be able to supply submarines to Australia; It currently builds submarines at a rate of approximately 1.13 per year.
Asked about gifts exchanged between leaders at the October 2025 meeting at the White House, Albanese told reporters in Washington DC: “We had a gift for Melania. We had jewelry, we had a model submarine for the president and some Ugg booties for the president’s new granddaughter.”
“I’ll probably get everything we get from (Trump) in about three years and six months after it goes through all the security and PM&C stuff, all of that.”
Albanese later stated in his official parliamentary record of interests that he had received a “desk set with stationery” from Trump.
Before the White House meeting, there were concerns that Trump might try to alter the terms of the deal with Aukus or eliminate it entirely. But Trump spoke warmly of the deal and said he was “full steam ahead.”
“We actually have a lot of submarines. We have the best submarines in the world and we are building some more, under construction,” Trump said.
US Navy Secretary John Phelan told the meeting that Washington wanted to “clear up some of the ambiguity” and “improve” the deal, but Trump quickly dismissed it as “minor details.”
The gift to First Lady Melania was described as a Bianca pearl pendant, a design by Australian pearl merchant Paspaley. The department valued it at $2,980, excluding GST.
A photo on the gift form shows a single round pearl on a yellow gold chain. Paspaley’s website describes the pendant: “A bundle of yellow gold accents your prized pearl pendant for an effortlessly elegant look.”
Trump’s desk set, received by Albanese, was valued by the Department at $923 excluding GST. A photo with the gift form shows a blue-bound folder with the President’s seal and white stationery including an envelope.
A form signed by Albanese expresses his wish for the stationery set to be handed over to the Department, rather than held personally by the Prime Minister, and displayed in a parliamentary or Commonwealth office.
Other gifts received from world leaders around the same time, including a box of honey and dates, a handcrafted box and a jewelry box from the President of the United Arab Emirates, were also presented to the Department.
