Donald Trump on the day of his inauguration, January 20, 2025, which was attended by the Swiss ambassador.Keystone
The Swiss ambassador to the United States, Ralf Heckner, closely followed the inauguration of the new president on Monday in Washington. The diplomat analyzes the repercussions that the Republican’s second term should have on our country.
Renzo Ruf, Washington / ch media
Born in 1967 in Davos, Ralf Heckner has only been in office officially for five months: he took office in September, when Joe Biden occupied the White House. However, the Swiss ambassador in Washington has already experienced two presidents, when he was stationed in India and Bhutan. Present at the Capitol when the new American head of state was sworn in, he tells us about this experience.
Ralf Heckner, you participated in Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony. How did you experience it?
Alright. We felt that the new president was ready to take the reins of government. The ceremony also symbolized the peaceful transfer of power from one US administration to another – and it was clearly felt as a participant.
Ralf Heckner, Swiss ambassador to the United States.zvg/eda
The event was held indoors due to the freezing cold outside. Were you seated comfortably?
With limited space in the Capitol’s dome room, some guests – the diplomatic corps, governors, spouses of members of Congress – had to go to the visitor center in the Parliament building.
“So I followed the swearing-in on a screen”
However, you attended Trump’s speech a little later.
Exactly. He came to the visitation center after taking the oath of office, accompanied by his wife, Vice President JD Vance and Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson. He then once again delivered a sort of speech to the guests, in which he mainly discussed migration policy.
This speech seemed improvised, unlike his first speech as president, which Donald Trump had rehearsed. What went through your mind when you heard it?
The audience Donald Trump spoke to at the visitation center was mostly made up of his constituents. His message was therefore aimed at supporters, which also explains why he focused on one of the main themes of his campaign.
However, you were not at the Capitol as a private person, but as an official representative of Switzerland. Based on what has been announced, what should our country prepare for for the Republican’s second term?
We haven’t heard anything new. Its themes have been known since the electoral campaign. Two points caught my attention. He spoke about job creation and industrial growth.
“I think we are well placed in this area, since Swiss companies have created 400,000 well-paid positions in the United States”
Switzerland also represents the sixth foreign investor in this large country.
This is a question that you have known well since the start of your mandate last September.
Exactly, since my arrival in Washington, I have seen Swiss companies opening production sites here one after the other. Many of them also train apprentices. They thus contribute to achieving one of President Trump’s objectives: strengthening the industrial base in the United States.
On September 18, 2024, Switzerland’s new ambassador, Ralf Heckner, presented his credentials to then-President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House.white house
To everyone’s surprise, Trump did not impose massive punitive tariffs on imports. Is this a good sign for Switzerland, a largely exporting nation?
Good news is obviously always nice. But the US president made it clear during his campaign and after his election victory that he wanted to impose tariffs on imported goods and services. I would therefore say that this remains on the agenda.
What else did you notice in his various interventions?
Donald Trump has announced his desire to make history as a peacemaker. From a Swiss point of view, we can only say that a more peaceful world is certainly a better world.
Did you have the opportunity to speak directly with the president on Monday?
The diplomatic corps was received at Blair House, the US president’s guest house, after the ceremony at the Capitol. Later, I was invited to one of the balls. But these are very, very large events, with thousands of people. These kinds of occasions are not provided for a foreign diplomat to speak directly to the head of state.
(Translated from German by Valentine Zenker)
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