A gold Rolex desk clock and a $130,000 engraved gold bar given to Donald Trump by a group of Swiss billionaires have raised questions in Europe and the US about the personalisation of US presidential power. Lisa Mazzone, the president of the Green party in Switzerland said the gifts appeared to show Trump’s “corrupt logic had poisoned the Swiss elite”. View image in fullscreen President Donald Trump speaks while signing the bill package to open the federal government in the Oval Office. The gold bar, emblazoned with the numbers 45 and 47 to honour Trump’s first and second presidency were given by Marwan Shakarchi, the head of the Swiss gold refining company MKS. They added that presidents might decide to personally retain or buy some of the gifts received but they could be taxed.
