Sutter/Trump – « We kiss on our cheek », not the butt: How the Federal Councilor threaded the conversation with Trump

In order for Federal President Keller-Sutter to make calls with Trump, a colleague had to postpone a media conference. And she used to leave from Neuchâtel.

Was it the gamuchanger in the customs dispute? Federal President Karin Keller-Sutter called the American president for 25 minutes. In a “open atmosphere”, as it says in her department. Keller-Sutter explained Donald Trump what the Swiss economy is already investing today and also thanked him for the conversation.

Shortly thereafter, Trump exposed the tariffs for the vast majority of countries – or lowered the sentence to 10 percent. Further details about the phone call can only be heard in fragments the day after the next day. Only so much: a physical meeting was not agreed during the conversation. But that doesn’t mean that there will not be one.

It is also certain that the government kept tight this time. The conversation was made « with enough preliminary ». Otherwise there are always leaks around the Federal Council. But the phone between the Federal President and Donald Trump only became public when it was already managed.

A classic phone call – no video call

Even the basement-sutter itself could not be seen in the cards. She had emphasized on Wednesday morning that it was about keeping “a cool head” “a cool head”, as she told SRF. It was long clear that she would make a phone call a few hours later. It was a classic phone call – so no video call.

It was also associated with some effort. The Federal Council met this Wednesday extra Muros in Neuchâtel. The weekly session took place in Neuchâtel Castle. Then there was the traditional aperitif with the population. The town of Keller-Sutter had selected personally. However, she herself had to go to Bern quickly so that she could make the phone call with Trump via secure lines.

Guy Parmelin also had to reschedule. The Federal Vice President originally planned that he will be holding a press conference on the EU research agreements on Wednesday afternoon. Since Keller-Sutter was missing in parts of the occasions in Neuchâtel, he had to take on some tasks as Vice President. The press conference therefore only took place on Thursday morning.

« We kiss on the cheek »

At this event, Parmelin commented on the phone call between the Keller-Sutter and Trump. He could not say whether there was actually the decisive factor that the tariffs were reduced again. The mere fact that American media attaches an increased importance to the phone call indicate « that Switzerland is valued as a negotiator ». But it was more of a piece of the puzzle and part of an overall package, said Parmelin.