Senator demands answers after Trump accepts Rolex and gold bar before slashing tariffs on Switzerland

Before President Donald Trump agreed to reduce tariffs on Swiss goods from Swiss traders last year, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee has been asked to provide more information about Rolex watches and gold bars he accepted from Swiss traders.

Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon is seeking more details to determine whether the president violated the law by accepting gifts before cutting the deal, according to the letter. Bloomberg.

In November, a delegation of Swiss traders went to the White House to talk to Trump after he imposed a 39 percent tariff on Swiss goods. Shortly thereafter, a Rolex table clock, not available for purchase by the general public, appeared on the President’s desk.

In addition, a custom gold bar was displayed on the Resolute desk valued at more than $130,000, according to Wyden’s office.

Less than two weeks later, Trump announced a deal to cut Swiss tariffs from 39 percent to 15 percent — the highest tariffs imposed on any Western country. Swiss tariffs remain at this rate.

At the time, the White House said the gifts were donations to Trump’s future presidential library, complied with US and Swiss law and were cleared by White House legal counsel.

In his letter, Wyden wrote: “Trump accepting gifts of significant monetary value before reducing tariffs on goods from Switzerland creates a clear conflict of interest and potential constitutional violations.”

independent Senator Wyden’s office has been reached for comment.

The foreign and domestic emoluments clauses are America’s oldest anti-corruption buffers. Under the Foreign Emoluments Clause, federal officials are prohibited from accepting gifts, offices, titles or payments from another head of state without the consent of Congress.

Wyden also questioned whether Swiss negotiators notified U.S. Trade Representative James Greer before or after the gifts were presented to Trump and which administration official recommended the new, lower tariff rate.

The White House pushed back on suggestions of a conflict of interest.

White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement: “Switzerland has secured trade deals and lower tariffs by reducing its unfair trade barriers and committing billions to invest in the United States.

“The only special interest guiding President Trump’s decisions is the best interests of the American people, and any suggestion otherwise is completely unfounded. President Trump is an extraordinarily successful businessman who could afford his own Swiss table clock.”

Trump’s decision to impose a 39 percent tariff on Switzerland in August surprised the country’s officials, as the U.S. is a top export destination for Swiss goods such as pharmaceuticals, luxury watches and precious metals.

While in Davos last week, Trump said former Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter had “rubbed the wrong way” and imposed higher taxes. Later, Swiss officials reportedly struggled to convince the president to lower tariff rates before a trade delegation helped ease tensions. Reuters.

Trump has a well-known love for lavish, personal gifts, which has raised questions about the president’s ethics. Lawmakers and nonprofit organizations say the appearance of accepting such gifts raises concerns about quid-pro-quos or preferential treatment of some countries.

“This incident also creates a perception of lavishing gifts instead of negotiating with the President. [US Trade Representative] A great way for trade partners to engage with the United States,” Wyden wrote.

In the past year, Trump has publicly accepted a gold crown from South Korea, a 24-carat gold and glass plaque from Apple CEO Tim Cook, a “FIFA Peace Prize” from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a gold pager from Israel, a photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and $400 million worth of gifts from airlines worth $400 million. Force One, before his transfer to the Presidential Library.