×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Sunday
04
Jan 2026
weather symbol
Athens 17°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> World

Swiss investigation into luxury gifts to Trump from businessmen – Rolex and the gold bar

Criticisms surrounding what the US press called "bullion diplomacy" erupted when Bern and Washington announced a joint statement of intent to reduce to 15% the tariffs imposed on Swiss products

Newsroom November 27 11:06

Two Swiss MPs have appealed to the attorney general of the Confederacy, demanding an investigation into “gifts offered to the US president” Donald Trump by the heads of Swiss businesses in early November, according to the French News Agency (AFP).

In early November, a delegation of Swiss businessmen traveled to Washington to meet with the US president in hopes of getting his attention on the impact of the 39% imposed on Swiss goods since early August.

A Rolex-brand table watch and a personalized gold bar that dominated the president’s White House office had captured the attention of the Swiss and U.S. media in the following days.

Criticism surrounding what the US press called “gold bar diplomacy” erupted when, 10 days late,r Bern and Washington announced a joint statement of intent aimed at reducing to 15 percent the tariffs imposed on Swiss products.

“In this case of great national and international importance, we believe that these facts must be clarified by justice,” wrote Swiss Greens (Vert.e.s suisses) MPs Greta Giesin and Raphael Mahheim in a complaint filed before the Confederation’s attorney general, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.

“At stake are the credibility of our institutions, respect for the rule of law and Switzerland’s reputation at the international level,” they added in the letter dated November 26.

The value of these items has not been made known, and “public information on the final destination of the gifts offered to the US president is incomplete,” these deputies believe, who are asking the prosecutor to investigate whether this is an “unjustified advantage under Swiss criminal law.”

In particular, they invoke “article 322” of the penal code, which concerns “corruption of foreign public officials”. The announcement of a draft agreement on tariff relief had been welcomed by employers’ associations, but had also provoked disapproval, notably from the Swiss Greens, who denounced this private visit by top business executives, deeming it “democratically questionable.”

Among the businessmen pictured in a photo from this meeting were the general manager of Rolex, Jean Frédéric Dufour, as well as that of the gold foundry and trading company MKS PAMP, Marwan Sakarchy.

>Related articles

Maduro in custody in New York: Photographed in handcuffs at DEA headquarters – Live updates on developments in Venezuela

Trump says US has ‘captured’ President Maduro following Caracas strikes

One year of Donald Trump’s presidency: Developments during the first 365 days

 

 

 

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#luxury gifts#Trump
> More World

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

New escalation: Farmers in Malgara decide on a 48-hour blockade of national highways, service roads and customs checkpoints

January 4, 2026

Chaos in Greek airspace as Athens FIR restores systems – Delays to continue for hours – What passengers need to know

January 4, 2026

Chaos at Athens International Airport, planes grounded and thousands of passengers affected

January 4, 2026

No flights in or out of Greece after technical failure shuts down airspace – Greek FIR emptied

January 4, 2026

Operational Incident Centers across Greece: How the new network will function

January 4, 2026

30-year-old man dies after brutal beating at a nightclub in Patras

January 4, 2026

From Tesla to Disney, 4 companies are preparing humanoid robots for the market: What they can do, how much they will cost

January 4, 2026

Everything changing in the Social Security System: Pension increases, end of the personal difference

January 4, 2026
All News

> Politics

Politicians… differently during the holidays: From skiing to the theater stage and hugs on the beach

The festive atmosphere, along with the winter weather, whetted the appetite of politicians who are sports enthusiasts, while others opted for everything from the theater stage to movie theaters, social gatherings, and even… roadblocks

January 2, 2026

Hatzidakis: €3.8 billion have been given to farmers in 2025 – They have no excuse not to come to the dialogue

January 2, 2026

Mitsotakis’ message for 2026: We still have problems to solve, understanding is the top priority of the year that dawns

December 31, 2025

Tsiaras’ report for 2025: a difficult year for the primary sector ends with 3.8 billion euro payments

December 31, 2025

PASOK turned upside down in the new year: The “stuck needle” in the polls, differing lines, Tsipras and Karystianou

December 31, 2025
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα