FARAWAY FRIEND

Autocrat Gifts Trump New Addition to His D.C. Makeover

The president has received yet another big gift from Asia.

Uzbekistan has gifted President Donald Trump intricate gazebos for his latest “beautification” project in Washington.

The gift comes straight from the Central Asian nation’s autocratic president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, according to The New York Times, which first reported that the “exquisitely crafted” structures will be exhibited in West Potomac Park near the National Mall.

That is the planned site of Trump’s so-called “National Garden of American Heroes,” where he intends to eventually install reflecting pools, dining facilities, an amphitheater, and 250 life-size statues of notable Americans.

“The aywans will be exhibited at West Potomac Park to celebrate the strong bond between the United States and Uzbekistan,” the Interior Department told the Daily Beast in a statement.

A spokesperson added, “President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan generously donated the traditional Uzbek gazebos to President Donald J. Trump, who accepted them on behalf of the people of the United States of America. Visitors to West Potomac Park will be able to enjoy the exquisitely crafted aywans later this fall.”

Mirziyoyev’s gift comes as he and Trump officials negotiate a trade and investment deal. The leader, who has been in power since 2016, has already committed to eliminating or reducing tariffs on a wide range of U.S. industrial goods and agricultural products.

It is unclear what, if any, influence Sergio Gor, the Uzbekistan-born special envoy to South and Central Asia, had on the gift.

Uzbek officials have praised Gor for drawing Washington’s attention to his country of birth.

Trump himself has been complimentary about Uzbekistan and Mirziyoyev. He posted on Truth Social in September that the Uzbek president was a “highly respected” leader whom he spoke with by phone.

“Today I want to congratulate President Mirziyoyev on signing a GREAT Deal with Boeing! Worth over $8 Billion Dollars, Uzbekistan Airways is purchasing 22,787 Dreamliners,” he wrote on Sept. 22. “This will create over 35,000 jobs in the United States. President Mirziyoyev is a man of his word, and we will continue to work together on many more items!”

One of those additional items appears to be U.S. support for Uzbekistan’s World Trade Organization accession process.

Times photographers captured workers moving materials for the Uzbek gazebos—which typically feature intricate, traditional Central Asian woodcarving—at West Potomac Park earlier this week.

The gazebos mark the latest gift Trump has received from Asian nations who are trying to curry his favor. He has also accepted a luxury jet from Qatar to be his new Air Force One, a pair of leopards from Saudi Arabia, and former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s putter and golf bag from Japan.

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Josh FialloBreaking News Reporter

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