Former US President Donald Trump's meeting with former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso at Trump Tower in New York on Tuesday raised eyebrows as Trump presented Aso with what appeared to be a golden key resembling a key to the White House. The gesture, captured in a photo shared by Trump on his social media platform Truth Social, ignited speculation and criticism, prompting a closer look at the truth behind the 'White House Key'.

Aso, who resigned from his position in 2009 but remains influential in Japan as the vice president of the country's Liberal Democratic Party, received the key during the meeting. However, the significance of the key remained unclear.

During the encounter, Trump also reminisced about former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in 2022. Trump praised Aso as a "highly respected man in Japan" and expressed honor in having him present.

The media and Trump's critics quickly seized upon the 'key' gift, questioning Trump's authority to make such gestures and accusing him of behaving as if he were still president. NBC executive Mike Sington questioned Trump's right to present the key, while social media users expressed disbelief and criticism of the former president's actions.

Former federal and state prosecutor Ron Filipkowski highlighted the incident, prompting further mockery and criticism from social media users. Some pointed out that Trump's gift was not sanctioned by the US government and accused him of exploiting his position for personal gain.

However, the truth behind the 'White House Key' lies in a revelation from Jared Kushner, former White House adviser and Trump's son-in-law, in his 2022 memoir 'Breaking History'. Kushner disclosed that Trump had created such keys for special visitors during his presidency, with the phrases "Key to the White House" and the presidential seal inscribed on them.

Kushner mentioned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among the recipients of the key during Trump's first term, although he was not the first to receive it. According to Kushner, Trump designed the oversized bronze key himself as a signature gift for special guests, with the presentation often accompanied by a wooden box adorned with the presidential seal.

The revelation sheds light on the origin and purpose of the 'White House Key', dispelling some of the mystery surrounding Trump's gesture to Aso. While the controversy sparked by the gift continues to reverberate, Kushner's account provides context to Trump's practice of bestowing symbolic tokens of appreciation to foreign dignitaries and allies.