(LR) US President Donald Trump and Rolex CEO Jean Frederic Dufou arrive at the Rolex Suite on September 7th in New York City, before the final match of Italian Giannik Thinner and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz men’s singles on the 15th day of the 2025 US Open at the USTA Billy Jean National Tennis Center.
Matthew Stockman | Getty Images
Sen. Elizabeth Warren gave a critical letter to Rolex on Wednesday after hosting President Donald Trump at the US Open, claiming that the Swiss company was trying to avoid charges that were hit by his country.
A Massachusetts Democrat said Rolex’s actions are the latest example of a company that has benefited from leadership relationships with Trump. She said the event “guarantees enquiries as to whether you are getting a page from.” apple and nvidiaPlaybook. ”
“This… raises questions about whether he is cultivating a relationship with President Trump to ensure a favorable tariff exemption for Rolex products,” Warren wrote in a letter to Jean Frederic Dufour, CEO of Watchmakers, shared solely with CNBC.
Both Nvidia and Apple have announced domestic investments since Trump returned to the White House in January. Trump invited the tech sector CEO to the White House earlier this month for dinner.
“Pocahontas should find a better use of her time than reminds me of the Acinin conspiracy theory,” White House spokesman Kush Desai referenced Trump’s long-time epithet for warren in a statement to CNBC.
Apple did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment. Nvidia and Rolex declined to comment.
Warren’s letter comes weeks after Trump was discovered alongside the Rolex midcoat box and Duhoo during the US Open Men’s Singles Championship. The president has been joined by families and senior administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Becent and Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt, according to NBC News.
President Donald Trump’s views on the Rolex exhibition in the final match of Italian Giannique Sinner and Spanish Carlos Alcaraz.
Albero | Getty Images Sports | Getty Images
In August, Trump announced that it would collect 39% of Swiss exports. Bernstein analyst Luca Sorca told clients that “the last deal that many wanted didn’t come true” between the US and Switzerland.
Solca said the Swiss watchmaker – the industry known around the world, is likely to need to raise prices as a result of Trump’s tariffs.
“The timing of attending a Rolex Box game is a concern given the president’s record of special treatment to a CEO who can plead him in flattery, reward, or both,” writes Warren. “I have a question as to whether they are trying to curry favors with the President to ensure a special benefit exemption from Rolex products.”
Models from the Swiss watchmaker’s example are models named “What if… Tariff?” The 39% import tariff play that President Donald Trump slapped in Switzerland last month was painted on his wrist at a swatch shop in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 12, 2025, so numbers 3 and 9 were reversed to their faces.
Pierre Albouis | Reuters
Fellow Swiss watchmaker Swatch took a different approach to US taxation.
This month, the company launched a special edition watch model in positions at numbers 3 and 9. Looking from left to right, the numbers indicate “39”.
A company spokesperson said CNBC Swatch will stop selling watches if the US changes its customs policy to Switzerland.
