Photograph Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture – Public Domain

Talking about corruption, Donald Trump and the Swiss may seem banal. It has been estimated that Trump and his family enriched themselves by $3.4 billion during his time in office. As for the Swiss, countless James Bond movies have the villains stashing away money in secret Swiss bank accounts or cash in anonymous deposit boxes. Trump is, in fact, involved in a Swiss corruption episode, but with an unusual twist. Two Swiss Green parliamentarians submitted a criminal complaint to the Swiss federal prosecutor not against Trump directly, but against six wealthy Swiss executives for allegedly engaging in corruption by giving Trump a gold Rolex clock and an inscribed gold ingot during their November 4 meeting in the Oval Office.

What is the proof of corruption? Soon after the meeting, Trump reduced tariffs on some Swiss goods from 39% to 15%. Can the presents – worth 100,000 Swiss francs – be considered bribery?

Buying Trump is certainly possible. Think of Qatar’s present of a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jet. David D. Kirkpatrick, in an extensive article in the August 11, 2025, New Yorker, describes how a substantial portion of the $3.4 billion – over $2 billion – comes from cryptocurrency related ventures, with the rest coming from family oriented business deals, media, golf clubs, and other sources. Together, these examples highlight just how the thin line can be between personal enrichment and public office.

So why are the two Swiss, Raphael Mahaim and Greta Gysin, so worked up about only $100,000, and accusing the Swiss........

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