Gazebos From Uzbekistan: The Latest Foreign Gifts in Trump's Washington

President Trump has received a set of beautifully made wooden gazebos as a gift from the president of Uzbekistan. The structures were shipped from Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital city, and large trucks carrying huge boxes were recently spotted dropping them off in West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. The gazebos are meant to go on display at the site of Trump's planned National Garden of American Heroes. This is just the latest in a series of foreign gifts Trump has received, following a luxury jet from Qatar and a pair of leopards from Saudi Arabia.

The Interior Department confirmed the donation in an official statement. Spokeswoman Katie Martin said that Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev '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.' She added that visitors will be able to see the 'exquisitely crafted aywans' at West Potomac Park later this fall. An aywan is a type of traditional Central Asian gazebo known for its detailed woodcarving.

West Potomac Park is an area near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., that is mostly made up of sports fields. President Trump wants to transform the space into a large and impressive park. His plans include reflecting pools, places to eat, an outdoor amphitheater, and 250 life-size statues of famous Americans. There is also a golf course nearby that Trump has proposed turning into a high-end destination.

However, both projects are still in the early planning stages. The Justice Department told a federal court this week that the Garden of Heroes is still just a 'vision' of the president's and is 'still a preliminary concept.' Projects like this would normally need to be reviewed and approved by groups like the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts. That includes getting approval for the designs of the individual statues.

The gazebo gift comes at a time when the United States and Uzbekistan have been building a closer relationship. In June, the two countries sped up talks to reach a trade and investment deal. As part of the agreement, Uzbekistan agreed to reduce or remove taxes on a wide range of American goods, and the U.S. agreed to give favorable treatment to Uzbek goods in return. Last year, Trump and Mirziyoyev announced what they described as $32 billion worth of business deals between the two countries. Trump also praised Mirziyoyev on social media, calling him 'Highly Respected' and congratulating him on purchasing $8 billion worth of Boeing airplanes.