Lawmakers Seek Probe into Swiss Business Gifts to Donald Trump

A criminal complaint filed against prominent Swiss business leaders has ignited a political firestorm in Switzerland, prompting calls for a formal corruption investigation. The complaint, lodged by two Green Party lawmakers, alleges that luxury gifts given to US President Donald Trump during trade negotiations may have violated Swiss anti-bribery laws. The controversy has cast a shadow over a recent trade deal that saw a significant reduction in US tariffs on Swiss goods, raising uncomfortable questions about the ethics of 'gold bar diplomacy' and its potential impact on Switzerland's international reputation.

In early November 2025, a delegation of Swiss business executives, including the CEOs of Rolex and precious metals trader MKS PAMP, met with Donald Trump in Washington. Their goal was to persuade the US President to lower the steep 39% tariffs on Swiss imports. During the meeting, the executives presented Trump with a series of lavish gifts, including a Rolex table clock and an engraved one-kilogram gold bar. Just ten days later, a breakthrough was announced: the US agreed to slash tariffs on Swiss goods to 15%. This sequence of events has led to accusations of influence-peddling, with critics dubbing the affair 'gold bar diplomacy'. The value of the gifts remains unknown, and their final destination is unclear, further fueling the controversy.

Green Party MPs Raphaël Mahaim and Greta Gysin have formally requested that the Swiss attorney general investigate the legality of the gifts. In their criminal complaint, they argue that the actions of the business leaders may constitute 'undue advantage under Swiss criminal law' and could have breached anti-bribery statutes. 'We believe that the events in question deserve judicial clarification,' the MPs stated, emphasizing that the 'credibility of our institutions, respect for the rule of law, and Switzerland's international reputation' are at stake. They warn that the transactional political style of the Trump administration risks normalizing practices that were once considered unthinkable, blurring the lines between diplomacy and corruption.

The controversy has sparked a heated debate within Switzerland. While the Green Party MPs have raised serious concerns, others have defended the actions of the business leaders. Céline Amaudruz of the right-wing UDC/SVP party dismissed the legal move as 'exaggerated,' arguing that such gifts would belong to the state in Switzerland, thus removing any element of personal influence. She praised the outcome of the trade deal, highlighting the benefits for the Swiss economy. Business leaders have also hailed the tariff reduction as a major victory, averting a potential crisis for the export-driven Swiss economy. However, the affair has highlighted a cultural clash between Switzerland's consensus-based political system and the more transactional approach favored by the Trump administration.

The Swiss federal prosecutor must now decide whether to open a formal investigation into the matter. If the case proceeds, it could eventually reach the Federal Criminal Court, setting a significant precedent for Swiss-US relations and the conduct of international business diplomacy. The outcome of this case will be closely watched, both within Switzerland and abroad, as it could have far-reaching implications for how Swiss companies engage with foreign governments in the future. The controversy serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and ethical dilemmas that can arise at the intersection of business, politics, and international relations.