While it is still too soon to say what lasting impact tariffs will have on the Swiss luxury watch industry, and particularly Rolex, the country’s largest and most profitable watchmaker – the proposed 31% tariff on Swiss goods is currently paused for 90 days – the evidence suggests that President Trump and his inner circle have a vested interested in the matter, at least where Rolex is concerned.
Not a business interest, per se, but more one of personal preference for the ultimate in sports and luxury timepieces from the famed Swiss brand. The President himself as well as First Lady Melania Trump, their son Barron Trump, and the President’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr. are immediate family members who have been photographed wearing Rolex watches. Additional members of their inner circle have likewise been seen with Rolexes strapped to their wrists.
These include the likes of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whittaker, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who recently purchased a $23 million mansion in Washington, DC to be closer to the action, and conservative commentator and Republican rainmaker Tucker Carlson. Considering that most enthusiasts rarely confine themselves to a single Rolex, the tariffs might conceivably affect them directly when it comes to future acquisitions from the crown. Here’s a look at the top Trump inner circle watches in detail:
Donald Trump: Day-Date Ref. 18238
This neo-vintage 36mm Rolex President watch has a champagne dial set with diamond hour markers, making it slightly flashier than the usual iteration of the model that earned its nickname thanks to the patronage of fellow U.S. Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson, Gerald Ford and John F. Kennedy, whose watch was a gift from Marilyn Monroe. When and if this Rolex 18238 ever comes up for auction it is sure to fetch a considerable sum.
Melania Trump: Day-Date Ref. 128345RBR
First Lady Melania Trump is also a fan of the (in general) “President” style Day-Date, though hers is both more modern and more feminine than that of the Commander in Chief. The 36mm Rolex 128345 is finished in Everose gold with a diamond-set bezel, diamond hour markers and a handsome grey dial. Considering the number of diamonds on the watch it serves as both timekeeper and a high-end piece of jewelry.
Donald Trump Jr.: GMT-Master II Ref. 126710GRNR
The President’s heir apparent was spotted wearing the soon-to-be-iconic “Bruce Wayne Rolex” variation of the legendary GMT with a black and grey bezel at the 2024 Republican Convention in Milwaukee. Presented on a jubilee band, this is amongst the most understated GMTs ever produced by the brand and makes a statement of quiet elegance and supreme confidence.
Barron Trump: Daytona Ref. 126508
There has been some speculation that the President’s youngest son received this solid gold Daytona as a gift for his recent 19th birthday. In any case he was seen wearing the Rolex 126508 while entering Trump Tower with Melania, and it is certainly a lot of watch for a student still at business school. Barron is of course not just any old student, to be sure, and he is already a partner in his own luxury real estate venture.
Marco Rubio: Datejust Ref. 126334
The Secretary of State’s two-tone Datejust with a fluted bezel, blue dial and jubilee band might just be the lowest-key watch on this list, which suits his typically reserved manner and method of statecraft. The roman numerals on this Rolex 126334 make it something of an enthusiast’s choice, if not the model most loved by the brand’s purists. As he favors blue suits however it’s an elegant selection.
Kristi Noem: Daytona Ref. 126508
The Homeland Security Secretary came under a bit of fire from the mainstream media recently for wearing this Rolex Daytona on a visit to a notorious maximum security prison in El Salvador. While the occasion might have mandated something less conspicuous, no commentator could deny that it’s an attractive timepiece. It’s also worth noting that Noem’s Daytona differs from Barron’s only in that it has a champagne dial with black subdials.
Mike Waltz: GMT-Master II Ref. 116710
The highly-coveted “Rolex Batgirl” GMT is the choice of President Trump’s National Security Advisor, and comes by its nickname thanks to the jubilee band in place of the oyster bracelet on the original “Batman” version. This Rolex 116710, with its action hero-adjacent vibe, seems like an excellent fit for the man who deals with the country’s most sensitive national security and military matters on a daily basis.
