The excitement was palpable. Crowds gathered outside the Mandarin Oriental Savoy in Zurich, where Donald Trump Jr. and his wife, Bettina Anderson, are reportedly staying during their honeymoon. Crowds also formed outside the Zunfthaus zur Saffran, the venue of the event. Security personnel were visible throughout the area.

The son of US President Donald Trump attended a meeting of prominent business leaders in Zurich on Thursday afternoon at the invitation of Davos Lodge. Among the participants was John Koudounis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Calamos Investments, with whom Trump Jr. discussed Bitcoin. The roughly 60 attendees had been carefully selected.

The topic of the event was the «Global Economic Roundtable: Who Shapes the Global Economy?»

About 60 selected guests attended Donald Trump Jr.'s appearance in Zurich. (Image: finews)

Defending His Father's Middle East Policy

During his appearance, Trump Jr. defended his father's approach to the Middle East, describing the current moment as a unique opportunity to resolve the region's long-standing problems.

According to Trump Jr., too many opportunities had been missed in the past. Experts who spend four decades without contributing to a solution eventually become part of the problem themselves.

«My father is not a traditional politician. He does not think about the next election. He is a dealmaker. This is our chance,» Trump Jr. said.

«The West Must Free Itself from China»

He expressed a similarly firm stance regarding China, arguing that Western countries must reduce their dependence on the world's second-largest economy.

«It is high time that the West frees itself from its dependence on China,» he said. «This cannot happen overnight, of course. But it is important that we finally take this step.»

When moderator Thomas Borer, the former Swiss ambassador, asked him about the war in Ukraine, Trump Jr. replied: «The killing must finally come to an end. But I do not believe that Zelensky really wants a deal.»

Turning to Europe, he argued that the continent should become more self-reliant and no longer depend on the services of the «Big Guy» – a reference to the United States.

Borer's Request

At the conclusion of the discussion, Borer asked Trump Jr. to put in a good word with his father on behalf of Switzerland and encourage him to lower tariffs on Swiss goods, ideally to 5 percent and below the level imposed on the European Union.

Switzerland, Borer noted, is a close friend of the United States. «And I am a big fan of Swiss watches,» Trump Jr. replied.

Following his appearance, Trump Jr. and his wife joined participants for a dinner at the Zunfthaus zur Saffran. Around 60 selected guests attended Donald Trump Jr.'s appearance in Zurich.

Trump Jr. and his wife later joined a dinner at the Zunfthaus zur Saffran.

Dinner at the Zunfthaus zur Saffran. (Image: finews)