A recent post by Cédric Wermuth, co-president of the Swiss People’s Party (SP), has caused a stir in the political scene. On his Instagram account, Wermuth published a short but striking message, “Fuck you Mr. Trump.”
The post, directed at the former and current US President, has sparked a wave of outrage, particularly from the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP). SVP Vice-President Thomas Matter demanded consequences, stating that Wermuth should either resign or the SP should leave the Federal Council.
FDP National Councillor Hans-Peter Portmann also sharply criticized the choice of words, describing it as “unbecoming” for a party president. He warned that such outbursts could seriously harm Switzerland’s diplomatic relations with the US.
Within the SP, however, the outrage is more contained. National Councillor Priska Seiler Graf deemed the resignation demands as “absurd.” Even SP Ständerat Daniel Jositsch, often critical of his party, stood behind Wermuth’s criticism of Trump, but added that he would have chosen a more diplomatic phrase.
FDP President Thierry Burkart avoided a direct statement on Wermuth’s post, but expressed concern over the tense geopolitical situation. A public dispute among Western partners is dangerous in the current situation, he said.
The incident fits into a larger context of an already heated political atmosphere. The Ukraine war is straining international relations and the tensions between Trump and Vladimir Zelenskyy regularly cause unrest. Wermuth’s verbal outburst is not only an internal party episode but part of a larger geopolitical landscape.