Obama Granted Saudi King's Bling Award

'Goodness gracious,' says prez of golden top honor
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 4, 2009 6:00 AM CDT
Obama Granted Saudi King's Bling Award
President Barack Obama receives a gift from Saudi King Abdullah at the start of their bilateral meeting at the King's Farm in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, yesterday.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

President Obama was given Saudi Arabia's weightiest honor by King Abdullah yesterday, the Daily Telegraph reports. "Goodness gracious. That's something there," Obama exclaimed as he was presented with the thick gold chain and medallion of the King Abdul Aziz Order of Merit. The president put the necklace aside "for safekeeping" after a few photos.

"Those are only given to the very few friends of the king, and you are certainly one of those," the king said before giving Obama the award, which George W. Bush received last year.  (More King Abdullah stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X