Warren Slams Rolex Over Trump Invite Amid 39% Tariff Scandal

- Warren accuses Rolex of lobbying Trump for tariff relief at U.S. Open - Accusation follows 39% Swiss tariff and 22.1% export decline in August On September 24, 2025, Cryptopolitan reported that Senator Elizabeth Warren accused Swiss luxury watchmaker Rolex of lobbying. Warren alleged the company engaged in these efforts by hosting President Donald Trump in its corporate suite during the U.S. Open. In a letter to Rolex CEO Jean-Frederic Dufour, she suggested the invitation was calculated to “cultivate a relationship with President Trump” in pursuit of tariff relief for the company’s products. Warren's allegation comes amid mounting trade tensions between the U.S. and Switzerland. In August, the Trump administration imposed a 39% tariff on Swiss exports, a move that hit the Swiss watch industry particularly hard. Consequently, Swiss exports to the United States plummeted by 22.1% that same month. Warren’s letter also drew comparisons to domestic investments that prominent companies like Apple and Nvidia announced after Trump’s return to office, implying a pattern of corporate concessions under the current administration. In a swift rebuttal, a White House spokesperson dismissed Warren’s allegations, labeling them “asinine conspiracy theories.” Rolex has yet to issue a public statement regarding the claims. The Rolex controversy comes as other Swiss watchmakers also react to the tariff. Swatch Group, for instance, introduced a limited-edition watch priced at 139 Swiss francs, a nod to the contentious tax rate. The watch features transposed “3” and “9” digits on the dial, which the company describes as a “positive provocation.” A Swatch spokesperson stated that the design is a symbolic response to the economic burden the tariff imposed. This trade dispute between the U.S. and Switzerland unfolds alongside larger international developments. For instance, U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue recently hinted that a “huge order” of Boeing aircraft from China is nearing finalization. This potential deal may serve as a cornerstone for forging a broader U.S.-China trade agreement. In her letter, Warren called for full transparency from Rolex regarding its interactions with the Trump administration, questioning whether the U.S. Open invitation represents another case of corporate lobbying aimed at influencing trade policy.