Two Swiss parliamentarians have formally requested that federal prosecutors investigate whether expensive gifts reportedly presented to former U.S. President Donald Trump by Swiss business executives violated the country's anti-corruption legislation.
Luxury Gifts and Suspicious Timing
The controversy centers around a meeting that occurred in the Oval Office on November 17, 2025, where a delegation of prominent Swiss business leaders presented Trump with several luxury items, including a Rolex watch and a gold bar, according to multiple media reports from Swiss newspaper Blick and U.S. news site Axios.
This gift-giving occurred just ten days before Switzerland secured a significant trade agreement with the United States. The framework deal, finalized this month, successfully reduced a 39% tariff on Swiss goods down to 15%, providing substantial relief to Swiss exporters.
Legal Challenge from Green Party
Green Party members of parliament Raphael Mahaim and Greta Gysin have taken formal action by submitting a detailed letter to the Swiss public prosecutor. They have demanded a judicial assessment of whether these gifts breached the Swiss Criminal Code, which prohibits offering "undue advantages" to foreign public officials.
In their submission, the lawmakers emphasized that "the end does not justify all means" when fundamental legal principles are at stake. They specifically referenced provisions that could carry penalties of up to five years imprisonment or substantial fines for bribery violations.
The public prosecutor's office had not issued an immediate response to the request for comment as of Thursday.
Business Leaders and Corporate Responses
According to documentation reviewed by Reuters, the business delegation included executives from several major Swiss companies:
- MSC
- Rolex
- Partners Group
- Mercuria
- Richemont
- MKS
Rolex declined to comment on the matter, while the White House did not immediately respond to requests for clarification. Most other companies involved also remained silent, except for Alfred Gantner, co-founder of Partners Group, who defended the meeting.
Gantner told Reuters that the public-private collaboration had delivered a much-needed resolution to the longstanding tariff dispute between Switzerland and the United States, suggesting the outcome justified the engagement.
Under Swiss legal procedures, any citizen can report potential offenses to criminal authorities, who then determine whether to initiate formal proceedings. The lawmakers' letter documented the gifts received but did not specify which companies or individuals presented each particular item.
