Brazil President
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2024-08-17
  • ![](/bbcx/grey-placeholder.png)![Getty Images X logo on a phone and laptop](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/77fa/live/154857b0-5cc5-11ef-a2d0-9f4cbcc34e5f.jpg.webp)Getty Images X, formerly known as Twitter, has closed its office in Brazil over a censorship row. The social media platform said a Brazilian Supreme Court judge, Alexandre de Moraes, threatened its legal representative in Brazil with arrest if it did not comply with his "censorship orders". Brazil's Supreme Court has not commented. People in Brazil are still able to use X, billionaire Elon Musk's platform said on Saturday. Mr Moraes had ordered X accounts he has accused of spreading disinformation - many supporters of the former right-wing president Jair Bolsanaro - must be blocked while they are under investigation. After X owner Musk criticised Mr Moraes, the judge ordered 100,000 reais ($19,774; £15,670) fines a day for any account that X reactivated, and stressed the possible liability of the company's legal representatives in Brazil if this were to happen. He also put [Mr Musk under investigation for charges](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv2ygp5pdqlo) including the obstruction of justice. ![](/bbcx/grey-placeholder.png)![Getty Images Alexandre de Moraes speaks during a session at the Supreme Court](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4f66/live/3418c0b0-5cb8-11ef-8cb2-77a538484814.jpg.webp)Getty Images X said in a statement that Brazilian staff had no responsibility or control over whether content is blocked but Mr Moraes has chosen to threaten staff in Brazil rather than respect the law. "As a result, to protect the safety of our staff, we have made the decision to close our operation in Brazil, effective immediately," X said. "The responsibility lies solely with Alexandre de Moraes. "His actions are incompatible with democratic government." Musk posted on X that there was "no question that Moraes needs to leave". He added that the decision to close the office in Brazil was "difficult", but if the company agreed to Mr Moraes' "demands, there was no way we could explain our actions without being ashamed". Mr Moraes is disliked by fans of the former president Mr Bolsonaro. During his presidency, he ordered investigations into some of the president’s allies. [ Brazil Supreme Court judge opens inquiry into Musk -------------------------------------------------- ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv2ygp5pdqlo)
2024-10-20
  • Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has cancelled a trip to Russia after injuring his head in an accident at home on Saturday. The 78-year-old was scheduled to travel on Sunday afternoon for the Brics summit - a grouping of major developing countries including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. A top hospital in capital Brasília said it advised the president to avoid long-haul flights temporarily. He will now participate in the meetings via video link instead. In a statement, the Sírio-Libanês Hospital in Brasília said the president was advised against long-distance travel, but is able to continue other activities as normal. It added that Lula suffered a laceration to the back of his head and is being monitored by doctors. The president's office said he will take part in the summit virtually from Brasília and will continue his other work. His office did not disclose any details about his injury. Citing doctors at the hospital, local media said the president was sent home on Saturday after receiving five stitches. He then returned to the hospital on Sunday morning for a follow-up and was later sent home, local media said. Lula was set to travel at 17:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Sunday for what would have been his first face-to-face meeting with President Vladimir Putin this year. On Friday, Putin announced that he will not attend the G20 summit in Brazil next month. He said his arrival might "disrupt" the conference and insisted the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for his arrest was not a factor. Last year, Putin [skipped the previous Brics summit in South Africa](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-66247067) after the ICC issued a warrant for his arrest. If Putin left Russian soil, he would have been subject to the arrest warrant. As ICC signatories, South Africa and Brazil would have been expected to help in Putin's arrest. The Brics grouping is seen by some as an alternative to the G7 group of advanced economies. The forum was founded 15 years ago by major emerging markets Brazil, Russia, India, China, and has since expanded to include South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. This year's summit will take place in the Russian city of Kazan from Tuesday to Thursday.
2024-11-16
  • Argentina has ordered the arrest of 61 Brazilian citizens for participating in the [2023 storming of government buildings](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/18/brazil-mob-attack-military-police-reform) in Brasília by supporters of the far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro, an Argentine source said on Saturday. Two people have been arrested so far who face prison sentences in Brazil, a judicial source in [Argentina](https://www.theguardian.com/world/argentina) told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorised to speak publicly. Argentina received an extradition request from Brazil’s judicial authorities last month. During the incident on 8 January 2023, a week after the leftist president [Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva](https://www.theguardian.com/world/luiz-inacio-lula-da-silva) took office, several thousand Bolsonaro supporters invaded and ransacked the Congress building, the presidential palace and the supreme court. Some [rioters fled to Argentina](https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/13/brazil-bolsonaro-rioters), hoping to find refuge under the government of the rightwing president Javier Milei. Federal police officials in Brazil said in June they believed between 50 and 100 Bolsonaro supporters charged with vandalism and insurrection had entered Argentina to avoid legal consequences. Many had convictions from the Brazil supreme court carrying heavy sentences. Bolsonaro’s former vice-president, Hamilton Mourão, said at the time that those who fled to Argentina did not believe they would get a fair trial in Brazil. The Brasília riots resembled the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol by supporters of the then president Donald Trump, who since has been elected to a second term. Brazilian authorities arrested about 3,000 people after the riots and about half are still in jail. Political violence flared up again last week after an attempted bomb attack on the Brazil supreme court, in a reminder of the ransacking of the building by Bolsonaro supporters last year. The incident has hardened consensus in Congress against a proposal to offer amnesty to participants in the 2023 attacks.
2024-11-18
  • The president of [Brazil](https://www.theguardian.com/world/brazil), [Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva](https://www.theguardian.com/world/luiz-inacio-lula-da-silva), has opened the G20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro with the launch of an alliance to combat hunger, which he described as the “ultimate symbol of our collective tragedy”. Brazil holds the rotating presidency of the group and is hosting the meeting this Monday and Tuesday, attended by all but two – Russia and Saudi Arabia – of the 19 member countries. [In his speech](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pltXdeRXjGA&t=2s), Lula recalled attending the first G20 meeting in the US in 2008: “Sixteen years later, I regret to say that the world is worse,” he said. [ No-show Joe: G20 leaders take group photo without Biden ](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/18/joe-biden-g20-photo) In a litany of the world’s current troubles, the leftwing leader included the highest number of armed conflicts since the second world war, the largest recorded displacement of people, extreme weather phenomena, and deepening social, racial and gender inequalities. But Lula said the “scourge that shames humanity” was hunger and poverty, with 733 million undernourished people worldwide, according to figures from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. “In a world that produces nearly 6bn tonnes of food every year, this is unacceptable,” he said, addressing leaders including Joe Biden, China’s Xi Jinping, the UK’s Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron. “It is the task of those gathered around this table to address this shameful scourge that dishonours humanity. For this reason, we have made the launch of a Global Alliance Against [Hunger](https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/hunger) and Poverty the central goal of Brazil’s G20 presidency,” said Lula. Eighty-one countries have backed the plan, but initially it seemed that only 18 of the 19 G20 members had signed up. [Argentina](https://www.theguardian.com/world/argentina), whose far-right president, Javier Milei, has previously described Lula as a communist, did not initially back the plan but later came around after negotiations. Earlier, Lula had welcomed all the leaders at the Museum of Modern Art, where the summit is being held. It was the first time Lula and Milei had met face to face, and the coldness of their handshake drew attention. ![A man and a woman walk behind two rows of seated officials at an international summit](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/358631d0de0acceb9aaaa9371cda842ee4706e0b/0_0_4845_3635/master/4845.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)[](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/18/g20-brazil-lula-hunger-alliance#img-2) Argentina’s President Javier Milei (top) walks behind his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, at the G20 summit. Photograph: António Lacerda/EPA The Argentinian leader was accompanied by his sister, Karina, [who is considered a key figure in his government](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/31/karina-javier-milei-argentina-president-power), and the Brazilian was joined by his wife, Janja da Silva. The four posed for an official photo with Lula but there was none of the whispered conversation that marked Lula’s meetings with other leaders. Since his election, the Argentinian president has visited Brazil, but has not held any meetings with Lula. In contrast, he recently participated in a CPAC event where [he praised and posed for photos](https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/world/2024/07/milei-spares-lula-and-delivers-a-speech-criticizing-socialism-in-brazil.shtml) with the former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro. In addition to joining the alliance late, [Argentina has opposed ideas championed by Brazil](https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/mundo/2024/11/brasil-nao-cede-a-argentina-e-mantem-genero-e-taxacao-de-super-ricos-em-texto-do-g20.shtml) as the rotating president of the G20 on issues such as taxation of the super-rich, for example. Last week, Argentina was the only country to vote against a non-binding UN resolution condemning violence against women. Iran, North Korea and Russia abstained. The [Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty](https://endhungerandpoverty.org/) has a total of 148 signatories, including 82 countries, 26 international organisations, 9 financial institutions, and 31 philanthropic foundations and non-governmental organisations. “May this summit be marked by the courage to act,” said Lula.
2024-11-21
  • ![Former President Jair Bolsonaro addresses supporters during a rally in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Feb. 25, 2024.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2698x1799+0+0/resize/%7Bwidth%7D/quality/%7Bquality%7D/format/%7Bformat%7D/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F39%2Fce%2F8aa98e434e74a425b91aa0074209%2Fap24324758626512-1.jpg) RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Brazil's federal police say the former right-wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, attempted to launch [a coup in 2022](https://www.npr.org/2023/01/08/1147761999/pro-bolsonaro-protesters-storm-brazils-congress) to stay in office following his relection defeat. The police indicted 36 other people, as part of what they say was a criminal conspiracy working to keep Bolsonaro in power, after he lost the 2022 election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Among the dozens allegedly part of the conspiracy are Bolsonaro's former defense minister, who was also his vice-presidential running mate, and a number of former close aides. The Federal Police report called the coup an attempt to "violently dismantle the constitutional state". The nearly 900-page report now goes to Brazil's Supreme Court to be referred to the attorney general who will decide whether to go ahead and try the former president. ![Supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro storm the the National Congress building, in Brasilia, Brazil, Jan. 8, 2023.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5616x3744+0+0/resize/%7Bwidth%7D/quality/%7Bquality%7D/format/%7Bformat%7D/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc0%2Fb5%2F7349201e46729345aedb017f0523%2Fap24290549549427.jpg) The police were investigating events that preceded the riots in the capital Brasília on January 8 2023, when shortly after Bolsonaro's left wing rival took office, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed the presidential palace, the Supreme Court and congress. On Tuesday, officials arrested four members of the military, including a top aide to Bolsonaro who they said colluded to assassinate then President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, his vice-presidential pick and a Supreme Court Justice. The plan was to spark a federal emergency that would allow Bolsonaro to declare a "state of siege" and stay in power as a caretaker government. Former Bolsonaro administration officials also accused of involvement in the alleged plot, include Defense Minister Walter Braga Netto, ex-National Security Adviser Augusto Heleno, the head of Bolsonaro's party, Valdemar Costa Neto and the former Justice Minister Anderson Torres. [In a post on X](https://x.com/jairbolsonaro/status/1859674801419452478), Bolsonaro said his lawyers would have to look more closely at the indicment. If convicted of attempting a coup and criminal association, the former president could face years in prison. Bolsonaro has denied all charges and says he is being politically persecuted.
2024-12-18
  • Brazil’s real has fallen to its weakest level against the dollar since the currency was introduced in 1994, undercut by investors’ frustration with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's efforts to rein in government spending SAO PAULO -- SAO PAULO (AP) — [Brazil’s](https://apnews.com/hub/brazil) real on Wednesday fell to its weakest level against the dollar since the currency was introduced in 1994, undercut by investors' frustration with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's efforts to rein in government spending. A bill backed by Lula that aims to slash 70-billion-real ($11 billion) in government spending is being debated in Brazil's lower house of Congress. But some market players have said it is insufficient to shore up Brazil’s finances. The real shed 2.8% of its value against the U.S. dollar Wednesday, depreciating to 6.26 per dollar. It’s the weakest the currency has been in nominal terms since its adoption in an economy with a history of boom-and-bust cycles and bouts of high inflation. This year, it has lost nearly 23% of its value against the U.S. currency. Brazil's lower house late Tuesday passed some less-divisive elements of the bill, but key parts — such as restrictions to increases in the minimum wage — have yet to be taken up for a vote. The Senate also needs to vote on what the lower house approves, and Congress adjourns Friday. Brazil's central bank has repeatedly intervened in local currency markets to stem the real's slide but so far has largely failed to stop the bleeding. Economists say the currency's weakness, which will increase costs of Brazilian imports, could trigger inflation as soon as January. “The government sent a package that is seen as insufficient, and it will be watered down in Congress. It also comes with a measure to increase spending through income tax,” analyst Mario Sérgio Lima, from Medley Advisors, told The Associated Press. “The real at 6 per dollar looks acceptable, but nearing 6.30 looks like an exaggeration.” Lula, who is [recovering from surgery to stop a brain bleed](https://apnews.com/article/brazil-lula-surgery-628cff2dc0c07ccaf003093c4c5e7218), told TV Globo on Sunday that his administration is fiscally responsible and downplayed concerns in the financial markets. “It is not the market that needs to be worried about government spending. It is our administration. If I don't rein in spending, if I spend more than I have, it is the poor people who will pay for it,” the Brazilian president said. Brazil's Economy Minister Fernando Haddad said the real's steep depreciation does not reflect the realities of the country's economy, noting that inflation and unemployment figures are improving. “Some are talking about speculation, including respectable journalists,” Haddad told journalists in Brazil's capital, Brasilia, without providing more details. “Our currency floats and at this moment, when some things are pending (in Congress), there's an atmosphere of uncertainty that makes the currency float. But I believe it will find its ground."
2025-01-16
  • Jair Bolsonaro has had a rough couple of years: [election losses](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/30/world/americas/lula-election-results-brazil-bolsonaro.html), [criminal cases](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/08/world/americas/brazil-police-raid-bolsonaro-attempted-coup-investigation.html), [questionable embassy sleepovers](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/25/world/americas/jair-bolsonaro-hungary-video.html). So when he finally received a piece of good news last week — an invitation to President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration — it lifted his spirits. “I’m feeling like a kid again with Trump’s invite. I’m fired up. I’m not even taking Viagra anymore,” the former Brazilian president said in an interview on Tuesday, employing his trademark sophomoric humor. “Trump’s gesture is something to be proud of, right? Who’s Trump? The most important guy in the world.” But reality has a way of spoiling plans. Brazil’s Supreme Court has confiscated Mr. Bolsonaro’s passport as part of an investigation into [whether he tried to stage a coup](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/08/world/americas/brazil-police-raid-bolsonaro-attempted-coup-investigation.html) after losing re-election in 2022. To attend Monday’s inauguration, Mr. Bolsonaro has had to request permission from a Supreme Court justice who is [also his political nemesis](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/22/world/americas/brazil-alexandre-de-moraes.html). On Wednesday, Brazil’s attorney general recommended that his request be rejected. Mr. Bolsonaro admitted he would likely be watching from home. A mural of Mr. Bolsonaro at the headquarters of his party, Partido Liberal.Credit...Victor Moriyama for The New York Times That likely split screen — Mr. Trump returning to the world’s most powerful job while Mr. Bolsonaro stays home on court orders — would encapsulate the two political doppelgängers’ starkly divergent paths since they were voted out of office and then claimed fraud. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and [log into](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F01%2F16%2Fworld%2Famericas%2Fjair-bolsonaro-brazil-trump-us.html&asset=opttrunc) your Times account, or [subscribe](https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F01%2F16%2Fworld%2Famericas%2Fjair-bolsonaro-brazil-trump-us.html) for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? [Log in](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F01%2F16%2Fworld%2Famericas%2Fjair-bolsonaro-brazil-trump-us.html&asset=opttrunc). Want all of The Times? [Subscribe](https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F01%2F16%2Fworld%2Famericas%2Fjair-bolsonaro-brazil-trump-us.html).
2025-01-21
  • Brazil has announced the top team for the [next UN climate summit](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/oct/16/lula-and-petro-have-chance-of-lifetime-to-save-amazon-can-they-unite-idealism-realpolitik-to-pull-it-off-cop16-aoe), which will be hosted in Belém this November, bypassing the country’s environment minister, Marina Silva, in favour of a veteran diplomat for the crucial role of president of the talks. The experienced climate negotiator and secretary for climate, energy and environment, André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, will preside over the Cop30 summit, which is expected to draw scores of world leaders to Brazil – though not Donald Trump, who soon after his inauguration on Monday [ordered the US’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/20/trump-executive-order-paris-climate-agreement). Ana Toni, a [respected Brazilian economist and the government’s climate change secretary](https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/28/brazil-radical-plan-tax-global-super-rich-tackle-climate-crisis), will take on the role of executive director of the summit. Cop30 is set to be one of the most consequential climate summits, as countries must agree fresh targets under the Paris agreement to cut their greenhouse gas emissions in line with the aim of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5C above preindustrial levels. ![Marina Silva, the Brazilian environment minister, speaking at Cop29](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/fc096cc9d555eed9ec2e5b12b9bbd4e641aa4299/0_246_5616_3370/master/5616.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)[](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/21/brazil-appoints-veteran-diplomat-as-cop30-president-for-november-summit#img-2) Marina Silva will continue in her role as environment minister. Photograph: Rafiq Maqbool/AP This will be difficult – not only is the US withdrawing from the Paris treaty, but many countries are falling behind on their carbon cutting targets, and even more have targets that are much too weak to limit emissions to what scientists say are safe. Last year was the first in which temperatures were consistently above 1.5C. This does not mean the end of the Paris agreement, as that will be judged after years or decades, but shows that hopes of avoiding the worst ravages of climate breakdown are rapidly fading. Civil society groups welcomed Brazil’s moves. The Observatório do Clima, a Brazilian green group, said in a statement: “Corrêa do Lago possesses both the skills and the respect of the international community – qualities he will need to tackle a challenging agenda at a time when global warming has exceeded the Paris agreement’s limits and geopolitics are increasingly hostile to climate action and international cooperation.” Natalie Unterstell, president of the Instituto Talanoa, said: “Cop30 cannot be just another conference – it must be a turning point. Corrêa do Lago brings a rare blend of diplomatic expertise and vision to push the Paris agreement from paper to reality. His leadership will be critical to turning global ambition into actionable, measurable outcomes.” ![Brazil’s president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, right, shakes hands with André Aranha Corrêa do Lago](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/eef0bd082f542c3a4542a3bd0379a83f9b89b456/0_46_7724_4633/master/7724.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)[](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/21/brazil-appoints-veteran-diplomat-as-cop30-president-for-november-summit#img-3) Brazil’s president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, right, shakes hands with André Aranha Corrêa do Lago after naming him president of UN climate summit Cop30. Photograph: Sérgio Lima/AFP/Getty Images Toya Manchineri, of the Coordination of Indigenous Organisations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB), said: “\[The appointment of Corrêa do Lago\] represents a positive effort but still does not guarantee what we truly expect: the centrality of Indigenous peoples in climate discussions.” The success of climate Cops – annual “conference of the parties” to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the 1992 parent treaty to 2015’s Paris agreement – relies heavily on the expertise of the presidency. Azerbaijan, which held the presidency for the previous Cop, which took place last November, was privately [criticised by many developed and developing countries for its handling of Cop29](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/26/how-late-deal-left-a-sense-of-dissatisfaction-and-betrayal-at-cop29-baku), including a failure to push countries to reconfirm a commitment to “transition away from fossil fuels”. One observer said: “The Cop can only be as good as the host country’s presidency, as we all could see last year.” There are still questions from some over how much personal interest Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, will take in the talks. Cop30 is scheduled to take place in Belém, a city near the mouth of the [Amazon](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/03/exclusive-protection-deal-for-amazon-rainforest-in-peril-as-big-business-turns-up-heat) river. But participants are increasingly concerned about the lack of facilities in the city, despite its emblematic situation in the rainforest state of Pará. Silva will continue in her role as environment minister.
2025-02-19
  • Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s former president, was charged on Tuesday with overseeing a vast scheme to hold on to power after losing the 2022 election, including one plot to annul the vote, disband courts and empower the military, and another to assassinate the nation’s president-elect. The accusations, laid out in a 272-page indictment, suggest that Brazil came strikingly close to plunging back into, in effect, a military dictatorship nearly four decades into its modern democracy. Attorney General Paulo Gonet Branco indicted Mr. Bolsonaro and 33 other people, including a former spy chief, defense minister and national security adviser, accusing them of a series of crimes against Brazil’s democracy. The charges essentially adopted [recommendations from Brazil’s federal police](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/21/world/americas/bolsonaro-coup-brazil-election-charges.html) made in November. The case will now go before Brazil’s Supreme Court, which will decide whether to order Mr. Bolsonaro’s arrest and have him face trial. If convicted, he could face 12 to 40 years in prison, according to the indictment, though political analysts expect any sentence to be shorter. In a statement, Mr. Bolsonaro, 69, called the indictment “the weaponization of the justice system” and compared himself to President Trump, a political ally he often emulates. The accusations are “nothing more than a desperate attempt to criminalize my political movement, silence millions of Brazilians and rig the next election before a single vote is cast,” Mr. Bolsonaro said, adding that he had handed over power peacefully. “This is the same failed strategy that was used against President Trump.” Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and [log into](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F02%2F18%2Fworld%2Famericas%2Fbrazil-bolsonaro-coup-charges.html&asset=opttrunc) your Times account, or [subscribe](https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F02%2F18%2Fworld%2Famericas%2Fbrazil-bolsonaro-coup-charges.html) for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? [Log in](https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&client_id=vi&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F02%2F18%2Fworld%2Famericas%2Fbrazil-bolsonaro-coup-charges.html&asset=opttrunc). Want all of The Times? [Subscribe](https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F02%2F18%2Fworld%2Famericas%2Fbrazil-bolsonaro-coup-charges.html).
2025-03-26
  • Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has stressed the importance of free trade and multilateralism and decried threats against democracy as he and Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba agreed to step up ties across the board ByMARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO -- Brazilian President [Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva](https://apnews.com/hub/luiz-inacio-lula-da-silva) stressed the importance of free trade and multilateralism and decried threats against democracy as he and [Japan](https://apnews.com/hub/brazil) 's Prime Minister [Shigeru Ishiba](https://apnews.com/hub/shigeru-ishiba) agreed Wednesday to step up ties across the board. The two leaders are expected to sign an action plan for the next five years to bolster their cooperation in a wide range of areas from security to economy and trade to climate change. Lula said now is a perfect time to reactivate their strategic partnership when democracy and multilateralism are threatened, protectionism is rising in a number of countries and there is something of a “cold war” between the United States and China. Lula said it was extremely important for [Brazil](https://apnews.com/hub/brazil) and Japan to reconfirm that democracy is the most important form of government and to ensure the importance of multilateralism and free trade. Brazil, the second largest steel exporter to the United States after Canada, and Japan, the sixth largest, both face 25% duty as the U.S. President [Donald Trump](https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump) steps up his [tariff threats.](https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-aluminum-steel-e5a6295577275045db3484b71c979bfb) Ishiba emphasized Brazil's growing global presence as the ninth economic power that shares Japan's principles and values. Lula on Tuesday met with Emperor [Naruhito](https://apnews.com/hub/naruhito) and attended a state banquet at the State Guest House. ![ABC News](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
2025-03-27
  • Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has swiped at U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to raise tariffs on a wide range of products TOKYO -- Brazilian President [Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva](https://apnews.com/hub/luiz-inacio-lula-da-silva) swiped Thursday at U.S. President [Donald Trump's](https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump) decision to raise U.S. tariffs on a wide range of products, saying Trump should consider the potential harm to the American and global economies. Lula made the comments while wrapping up a 4-day visit to Japan, where Trump's decision Wednesday to order [25% tariffs](https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-3-26-2025) on all car imports came as a severe blow given the country's status as a major auto exporter and American ally. The U.S. is the biggest destination for Japanese car exports. “I am very concerned about the behavior of the American government,” Lula said. “I am concerned because free trade is being harmed and I am concerned because multilateralism is weakened,” Lula said through an interpreter. Lula said he foresees no positive outcome from Trump's policy of raising tariffs given that they will raise prices for American consumers, adding to inflation and leading to higher interest rates that might stifle economic growth. He added that Trump is president only of the United States, not the world, and that “this protectionism does not help any country in the world.” Japanese Prime Minister [Shigeru Ishiba](https://apnews.com/hub/shigeru-ishiba) reiterated he wants Japan to be exempt from such tariffs. He and Lula agreed to step up [partnerships](https://apnews.com/article/japan-brazil-ishiba-lula-trade-democracy-97f3c78c220595b6cf1b2029cb4e6692) between Japan and Brazil in the areas of the economy, trade and security. As Trump’s tariff threats have triggered tensions and vows of retaliation from Canada, Mexico, China and Europe, Japan has been working to firm up ties with other countries. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Trump's decision on auto tariffs was “extremely regrettable.” Japan strongly has “strongly urged" it be exempt. Brazil is the top steel exporter to the United States. Lula said it was considering filing complaints to the World Trade Organization and might impose reciprocal tariffs. But Brazil is not near the top of Trump's list for trade retaliation since the U.S., its second-largest trading partner, exports more than it imports from there. The U.S. trade surplus with Brazil was $7.4 billion in 2024, nearly a 32% increase over a year earlier. Brazil's top exports to the U.S. were petroleum and iron and steel. Its biggest imports from the U.S. were crude and refined oil, gas turbines, aircraft, chemical and machinery.
2025-04-25
  • [Brazil’s](https://www.theguardian.com/world/brazil) former president, Fernando Collor, has been arrested early and ordered to begin serving a prison sentence stemming from his 2023 conviction for corruption. Collor was convicted of receiving 20m reais ($3.5m) to facilitate contracts between BR Distribuidora, a fuel distributor formerly controlled by the state-owned oil company Petrobras, and construction firm UTC Engenharia for the construction of fuel distribution bases. In return, he offered political support for the appointment of executives at BR Distribuidora when it was still state-owned. Collor, who led the country from 1990 to 1992, was sentenced to eight years and 10 months, to be served initially in prison, rather than under house arrest. He was arrested on Friday in the northeastern state of Alagoas. Under the Brazilian legal system, cases concerning members of Congress, presidents and ministers go directly to the supreme court. He was not yet in prison because his lawyers were still lodging appeals. The case stemmed from the Operation Car Wash, [a sweeping corruption investigation](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/20/brazil-petrobras-scandal-layoffs-dilma-rousseff) that has implicated top politicians and businesspeople across Latin America – including the current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was arrested in 2018 and imprisoned for nearly two years. Collor, 75, was the first Brazilian president elected by popular vote, in 1989, after a 21-year military dictatorship. He was impeached and removed from office by Congress in 1992 following corruption allegations. In 2007, he was elected as a senator representing his home state of Alagoas in northeastern Brazil. Supreme court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the former president’s arrest Thursday, with the full board set to vote on Friday whether to confirm the decision. De Moraes said in his decision that Collor should begin serving his sentence, noting that the former president’s lawyers have attempted to drag out proceedings through appeals. The justice also said that the court had previously ruled in similar cases that, once appeals have no merit, the sentence can be served right away. Collor’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
2025-07-07
  • Donald Trump has issued his strongest defence to date of Brazil’s former president [Jair Bolsonaro](https://www.theguardian.com/world/jair-bolsonaro), claiming the far-right leader is the victim of a “witch-hunt” in his home country. Posting on his social media platform Truth Social on Monday, the US president claimed that Bolsonaro – often dubbed the “Trump of the Tropics” – is “not guilty of anything”, in an apparent reference to the legal cases Bolsonaro is facing in [Brazil](https://www.theguardian.com/world/brazil). Trump wrote: “Brazil is doing a terrible thing on their treatment” of the former president. “He is not guilty of anything, except having fought for THE PEOPLE,” he wrote. Among other cases, Bolsonaro is being tried by the supreme court for [allegedly leading an attempted coup](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/10/brazil-jair-bolsonaro-coup-trial) following his defeat to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the 2022 presidential election. While Bolsonaro [expressed his gratitude](https://www.instagram.com/p/DL0D9SkxbiH/) for Trump’s support, Lula said in an initial statement that Brazil was a “sovereign country” that “does not accept interference or tutelage from anyone”. Lula also responded to [a Trump post](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114809574296066307) from the previous evening in which the US president announced an additional 10% tariff on “any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS”, the grouping consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. “I don’t think it’s responsible or serious for the president of a country the size of the US to go around threatening the world on the internet,” he said. “He needs to understand that the world has changed. We don’t want an emperor – we are sovereign nations.” Later, during a [press conference](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC92EoW755k) at the [Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/07/brics-summit-brazil-president-lula), Lula was asked directly about Trump’s post in support of Bolsonaro. “Look, I’m not going to comment on this Trump and Bolsonaro thing,” he said. “I’ve got more important things to talk about than that. “This country has laws, this country has rules, and this country has an owner: the Brazilian people. So mind your own business and not ours,” he added. Bolsonaro is facing a range of criminal and electoral cases in Brazil. He is now barred from running for office until 2030 after making unfounded attacks on the country’s voting system, which disqualifies him from next year’s election. At the supreme court, in addition to the alleged coup attempt, Bolsonaro stands accused of allegedly selling jewellery intended for the presidency and forging a Covid vaccination certificate. The coup case, however, is the most advanced, with a ruling expected later this year. In his post, Trump wrote: “The only Trial that should be happening is a Trial by the Voters of Brazil – It’s called an Election. LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE!” The former Brazilian president had been seeking a more vocal show of support from Trump for months. One of his sons, Eduardo Bolsonaro, took leave from his post as a congressman and has been living in the US since March, [lobbying Trump and Republican politicians](https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/articles/cj921w8gv7ro) to impose sanctions on Brazil – and particularly on the judge overseeing the cases against the former president, Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Eduardo praised Trump’s post and said it “would not be the only news coming from the United States in the near future”. In his post thanking Trump – which included a photo of the two standing side by side during their presidencies – Bolsonaro said he was the target of “a legal aberration (lawfare), a clear case of political persecution that is now obvious to anyone with common sense”. In Brazil, however, there is [broad consensus among legal experts](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/09/jair-bolsonaro-brazil-supreme-court-coup-plot) that the coup case is legally sound and that a conviction is likely.
  • ![](https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/bbcdotcom/web/20250701-150711-e3d94715db-web-2.24.1-1/grey-placeholder.png)![Getty Images Trump, with a waving hand, stands next to Bolsonaro outside the White House. ](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/aeda/live/794a7ea0-5b4d-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.jpg.webp)Getty Images The former Brazilian president visited Washington during Trump's first term in 2019 US President Donald Trump has urged Brazilian authorities to end their prosecution of the country's former President Jair Bolsonaro, accusing them of carrying out a "WITCH HUNT". His comments drew a swift rebuke from current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who said Brazil would not accept "interference" from anyone and added: "No one is above the law." Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil between 2019 and 2022, is standing trial for allegedly attempting a coup against Lula following his election victory in 2021. The former leader has denied involvement in any alleged plot. In a social media post, Trump said Bolsonaro was "not guilty of anything, except having fought for THE PEOPLE" and told prosecutors to "LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE!" He praised Bolsonaro as a "strong leader" who "truly loved his country". The US president compared Bolsonaro's prosecution to the legal cases he himself faced between his two presidential terms. "This is nothing more, or less, than an attack on a Political Opponent - Something I know much about! It happened to me, times 10," Trump said. Bolsonaro thanked Trump for his comments, describing the case against him as "clear political persecution" in a social media post. But President Lula hit back at the US leader, saying "the defence of democracy in Brazil is a matter for Brazilians. We are a sovereign nation. "We won't accept interference or instruction from anyone. We have solid and independent institutions. No one is above the law. Especially those who attack freedom and the rule of law." Brazilian Minister of Institutional Affairs Gleisi Hoffmann also criticised Trump: "The time when Brazil was subservient to the US was the time of Bolsonaro." "The US president should take care of his own problems, which are not few, an respect the sovereignty of Brazil and our judiciary," she added. The back and fourth comes as Lula hosted representatives from China, Russia and other nations at a Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro. Trump had earlier threatened to levy additional tariffs against countries aligned with [what he called the bloc's "anti-American" policies](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1dnz7gw92zo). ![](https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/bbcdotcom/web/20250701-150711-e3d94715db-web-2.24.1-1/grey-placeholder.png)![Getty Images Bolsonaro hands Trump a Brazil football shirt, with Trump's name on it, in the White House.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/39e2/live/2373bd50-5b59-11f0-960d-e9f1088a89fe.jpg.webp)Getty Images Bolsonaro and Trump exchanged gifts in the White House in 2019 Trump and Bolsonaro enjoyed a friendly relationship when their presidencies overlapped, with the pair meeting at the White House in 2019. Both men subsequently lost presidential elections and both refused to publicly acknowledge defeat. A week after Lula's inauguration in January 2023, [thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-64204860) in the capital, Brasilia, in what federal investigators say was an attempted coup. Bolsonaro was in the United States at the time and has always denied any links to the rioters. He has been barred from running for public office until 2030 for falsely claiming Brazil's voting system was vulnerable to fraud, but he has said he intends to fight that ban and run for a second term in 2026. Speaking in court for the first time last month, Bolsonaro said a coup was an "abominable thing". The 70-year-old could face decades in prison if convicted.
  • U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized Brazilian authorities over what he calls “a witch hunt” against former President Jair Bolsonaro SAO PAULO -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday criticized Brazilian authorities over what he called “a witch hunt” against former President [Jair Bolsonaro](https://apnews.com/hub/jair-bolsonaro) and said he will be “closely monitoring” [his trial](https://apnews.com/article/brazil-bolsonaro-trial-things-to-know-52ca0d8e3f2730e1e3989d07ad2c1ee4). The South American far-right leader, who governed between 2019 and 2022, is [standing trial](https://apnews.com/article/brazil-bolsonaro-trial-coup-578007b7e4444827be57d2bda2fff663) before the country's Supreme Court for his role in an alleged coup attempt in January 2023. He is already ineligible for next year’s vote. The former president has [repeatedly denied the allegations](https://apnews.com/article/brazil-bolsonaro-demonstration-coup-1160d2159fb11f84715bcf158d5006bd) and said he is the target of political persecution. In his first such comment since Bolsonaro's trial began, Trump said in a social media post that Brazil “is doing a terrible thing in their treatment” of his ally. He added that Bolsonaro “is not guilty of anything, except for having fought for the people," and compared the Brazilian's situation to his own. “This happened to me, times 10,” the U.S. president said. “I will be closely monitoring the witch hunt of Jair Bolsonaro, his family, and thousands of his supporters. Leave Bolsonaro alone!" Bolsonaro responded by saying on social media that Trump’s “fight for peace, justice and liberty echoes worldwide," and he thanked the U.S. leader for “giving us a role model for faith and resilience.” [Bolsonaro](https://apnews.com/video/brazils-ex-leader-bolsonaro-rallies-supporters-in-sao-paulo-to-protest-his-supreme-court-trial-311e7a31185e4b00832733533e417e53) has been declared ineligible to run for office until 2030 by Brazil’s electoral court for abuse of power during the 2022 election, when he narrowly lost to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro's son Eduardo [relocated to the U.S. in March](https://apnews.com/article/brazil-bolsonaro-trial-us-son-386ccf9203558c9c631ec98cbf289d6e), and has said he would work to push for sanctions against Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is leading several investigations into his father’s actions. In May, Moraes ordered the opening of an investigation into Eduardo Bolsonaro following a request from the Prosecutor General's Office, citing the possible crimes of obstruction of investigation and attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law in his push for sanctions. Brazil’s Supreme Court didn't comment on Trump’s message. Lula said in a statement, which didn't mention Trump by name, that “the defense of democracy in Brazil is a topic for Brazilians. We are a sovereign nation.” Brazil’s president added: “We have solid and independent institutions. No one is above the law. Even more so those who attack freedom and the rule of law.” Later, speaking on the sidelines of a [summit of BRICS](https://apnews.com/article/brics-summit-brazil-2025-lula-ee830be326e295fed787032abf43d59a) emerging economies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's president said that he had “more important things to comment" on than Trump's post on Bolsonaro. “Go take care of your own life, not ours,” Lula said. Brazil's leader also criticized Trump after the U.S. president said that any country that aligns itself with what he termed “the Anti-American policies of BRICS” would be levied an added 10% tariff. On Sunday, members of the BRICS bloc condemned the increase of tariffs, without citing Trump in their final declaration. “I think it’s very wrong and very irresponsible for a president to threaten others on digital networks,” Lula said. “We don't want an emperor.” \_\_\_ Eléonore Hughes contributed to this report from Rio de Janeiro .
2025-07-09
  • ![President Trump is pictured at the Salute to America Celebration at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines on July 3.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x740+0+0/resize/%7Bwidth%7D/quality/%7Bquality%7D/format/%7Bformat%7D/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F59%2F02%2F63b99ff74cea8bea57334b7a63bc%2Fgettyimages-2222733330.jpg) President Trump broke from his tariff letter format to tell the president of Brazil that he plans to put a 50% tariff on "any and all Brazilian products sent into the United States" starting on Aug. 1. Trump posted the letter to social media Wednesday afternoon, his 22nd such letter this week. However, this letter departed markedly from the others Trump has posted. All of the other letters were similar, telling countries that the new tariffs were intended to rectify trade imbalances with the U.S. The letter to Brazil, however, was about Brazilian politics. Trump wrote that the Brazilian tariffs are needed in part "to rectify the grave injustices of the current regime," and in particular what Trump called a "Witch Hunt" against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro is currently on trial for allegations that he and allies planned a coup in an attempt to stay in power after the far-right president lost in a reelection bid against [the leftist Lula da Silva in 2022](https://www.npr.org/2023/01/01/1146518711/leftist-lula-brazil-sworn-in-president). Trump has long praised Bolsonaro, and he continued to do so in his letter. Trump wrote that he "knew and dealt with former President Jair Bolsonaro, and respected him greatly," and said the way the former leader has been treated in Brazil "is an international disgrace." Wednesday's tariff letter follows an announcement Trump made earlier this week that members of the BRICS alliance, including Brazil, would be subject to an additional 10% tariff. It was unclear whether that tariff rate would be applied in addition to the 50% rate Trump is proposing. Brazil hosted a summit of BRICS countries earlier this week, including the original BRICS members – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – plus new members including Egypt and Indonesia. At that summit, in response to Trump's BRICS tariff threat, da Silva fired back at Trump. "We don't want an emperor, we are sovereign countries," Lula said in a speech. "It's not right for a president of a country the size of the United States to threaten the world online." The tariff letters are the result of months of watching and waiting as Trump decided what to do with the global tariffs he announced on April 2. That day, he announced tariffs on nearly every country, with rates ranging from 10 to 50%. After investors panicked and stock markets plummeted, Trump walked back his tariffs, putting in place what he called a 90-day "pause" until July 9, during which all of those tariffs would be held at 10%. Trump had said he would make tariff deals with countries by July 9, but thus far, only two have been announced. Trump this week bumped out the deadline to Aug. 1. Instead of announcing additional deals, he has started posting these letters. The 50% proposed tariff on Wednesday is a massive jump from the 10% tariff Trump announced for Brazil on April 2. It is also seemingly not intended to correct a trade deficit — in 2024, the U.S. had a [trade surplus with Brazil](https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/brazil).
  • Natalie Sherman and Nadine Yousif BBC News US President Donald Trump said he was planning to impose a 50% tax on goods made in Brazil, escalating his fight with the South American country. He announced the plan in his latest tariff letter, which was shared on social media. In it, Trump accuses Brazil of "attacks" on US tech companies and of conducting a "witch hunt" against former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, who is facing prosecution over his alleged role in a plot to overturn the 2022 election. Responding in a social media post, Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said an increase in tariffs on Brazil would be reciprocated, and he warned against any interference in the nation's judicial system. Trump also sparred with Lula about Bolsonaro's trial earlier this week. At the time, Lula said Brazil would not accept "interference" from anyone and added: "No one is above the law." Trump has posted 22 letters to countries around the world this week, including trade partners such as Japan, South Korea and Sri Lanka, outlining new tariffs on their goods which he says will come into force on 1 August. The moves have largely served to revive plans he had put forward in April, but that were put on hold after financial markets recoiled at the measures. But the message to Brazil was a far more targeted missive and threatened a significant increase from the 10% tariff the White House had previously announced on goods from the country. Unlike many other countries, the US enjoyed a trade surplus with Brazil last year, selling more goods in the country than it purchased from it. In the letter, Trump called the 50% rate "necessary ... to rectify the grave injustices of the current regime". He said he would order the US Trade Representative to launch a so-called 301 investigation into Brazil's digital trade practices. Such a move would mark a turn towards a more established legal process that the US has used to impose tariffs in the past, toughening the threat. In his first term, Trump took a similar step over Brazil's consideration of a tax targeting tech firms. Trump, in the letter, accused the Brazilian government of "insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans" including the censorship of "US Social Media platforms". Trump's social media company, Trump Media, is among the US tech companies fighting Brazilian court rulings over orders suspending social media accounts. The country had also temporarily banned Elon Musk's X, formerly known as Twitter, after the platform refused to ban accounts that were deemed by Brazil to be spreading misinformation about the 2022 Brazilian presidential election. Last month, Brazil's Supreme Court ruled that social media companies can be held responsible for content posted on their platforms. In his letter, Trump also spoke favourably of former Brazilian president Bolsonaro, saying he "respected him greatly". He added that the ongoing trial against him is "an international disgrace". Trump and Bolsonaro enjoyed a friendly relationship when their presidencies overlapped, with the pair meeting in 2019 at the White House during Trump's first term. Bolsonaro is often dubbed "Trump of the Tropics". Both men subsequently lost presidential elections and both refused to publicly acknowledge defeat. Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil between 2019 and 2022, is standing trial for allegedly attempting a coup with thousands of his supporters storming government buildings in the capital in January 2023 after Lula was victorious in the election. Bolsonaro was in the United States at the time and has denied any links to the rioters or any involvement in the plot. Earlier this week, Trump had compared Bolsonaro's prosecution to the legal cases he has similarly faced. "This is nothing more, or less, than an attack on a Political Opponent - Something I know much about!" Trump had said. In response, Bolsonaro thanked the US president for his support. Trump was also critical of the Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro, where the group of developing nations met on Sunday. Trump called the group, which includes Brazil, "anti-American" and said those countries would be charged an additional 10% tariff. President Lula fired back on Monday against Trump's social media threats. "He needs to know that the world has changed," Lula said. "We don't want an emperor."
2025-07-10
  • In a move seen by many – including Brazil’s president – as an attack on the country’s sovereignty, the US president, Donald Trump, announced on Wednesday that he intends to impose an [additional 50% tariff](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/09/trump-tariffs-brunei-libya-moldova) on Latin America’s largest country from 1 August. Not only was this the highest rate among this week’s announcements – and aimed at a country with which the US has maintained a trade surplus for 17 years – but the letter sent to the Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, also stood out for its intemperate tone, in contrast to the standard format adopted in letters to other countries. Trump portrayed the new tariff as retaliation for the legal cases faced by former president [Jair Bolsonaro](https://www.theguardian.com/world/jair-bolsonaro), who is now on trial and could soon be jailed for [allegedly leading an attempted coup](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/10/brazil-jair-bolsonaro-coup-trial) to overturn his 2022 electoral defeat to Lula. Bolsonaro denies the charges. On Monday, Trump issued his [strongest defence to date of Bolsonaro](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/07/trump-bolsonaro-brazil-lula), claiming that the far-right former Brazilian president, often referred to as the “Trump of the Tropics”, was the victim of a “witch-hunt” aimed at keeping him out of next year’s election. Brazil summoned the US envoy in response to the extraordinary intervention. On Wednesday, while announcing the new 50% tariff, the US president repeated many of the same arguments and also claimed that Brazil’s supreme court had issued “censorship orders” against US tech companies, accusing the country of “ongoing attacks on the digital business activities of American firms”. Brazil once again summoned the US envoy and [symbolically rejected the letter](https://g1.globo.com/politica/blog/julia-duailibi/post/2025/07/09/reuniao-itamaraty-embaixada-estados-unidos-taxa-carta-trump.ghtml), while Lula, who on Monday said that Brazil does not accept external interference, issued a [new statement](https://www.gov.br/planalto/pt-br/acompanhe-o-planalto/noticias/2025/07/nota-a-imprensa-1) rebutting Trump’s claims point by point. His staff are [now assessing whether to retaliate against the new tariff](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/10/brazil-trump-tariff-threat). Given the [US’s longstanding trade surplus with Brazil](https://www.gov.br/mre/en/contact-us/press-area/press-releases/trade-measures-adopted-by-the-united-states-government-on-april-2-2025-joint-mre-mdic-press-release), which had received the minimum 10% tariff in the April round, the general reaction was one of surprise. One of Bolsonaro’s politician sons, however, was quick to claim credit for the tariff hike. Eduardo Bolsonaro [hailed it as a “success”](https://www.instagram.com/p/DL6D4iSPKSf/) resulting from the “intense dialogue” he has maintained with members of the Trump administration since March, when he took leave from the lower house and moved to the US. Business leaders who typically support Bolsonaro, however, were among those most likely to be affected by the tariffs – including sectors such as coffee, meat, textiles, plastics and footwear – and [have raised concerns](https://oglobo.globo.com/economia/noticia/2025/07/10/empregos-sob-risco-quem-perde-com-o-tarifaco-de-trump-economistas-e-lideres-empresariais-respondem.ghtml). Bolsonaro’s inner circle was [reportedly now working](https://oglobo.globo.com/blogs/bela-megale/post/2025/07/bolsonaro-e-aliados-atuam-para-que-desgaste-sobre-tarifa-de-trump-nao-recaia-na-familia.ghtml) to ensure that the political and economic fallout does not fall on the former president. Sociologist Celso Rocha de Barros believes Trump’s move could actually make things worse for Bolsonaro. “One thing that’s rarely a wise move when you’re on trial is to threaten the judge. And that’s basically what Bolsonaro is doing,” he said, arguing that the letter was above all an attempt to intimidate the court, since Lula himself has no power to halt the trial. For Lula, the turmoil is being seen as an opportunity to recover [the president’s faltering popularity](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-lula-approval-rating-edges-down-28-pollster-datafolha-says-2025-06-12/), as the 79-year-old leftist has already announced plans to run for re-election. Hoping for a [repeat of Canada’s recent elections](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/29/canada-election-result-liberal-win-mark-carney-anti-trump) – where Liberals gained ground after repeated attacks from the US president – Lula has embraced the defence of a “sovereign Brazil” as a [campaign slogan on social media](https://www.instagram.com/p/DL7ZPOkOBnu/). If it may benefit Lula, it could hurt Bolsonaro, says Rocha. “Bolsonaro has essentially imposed a tax on the Brazilian people – one that will only help reduce the US fiscal deficit, not Brazil’s,” said the sociologist.
  • ![A container ship docked at the Port of Rio de Janeiro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday, July 10, 2025.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/%7Bwidth%7D/quality/%7Bquality%7D/format/%7Bformat%7D/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2F17%2F8c524c644d50a44a472d0f1ff754%2Fgettyimages-2223795979.jpg) RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says the U.S. must respect his country — and he's ready to impose retaliatory tariffs if President Donald Trump goes ahead with a [threat to slap a 50% tax](https://www.npr.org/2025/07/09/nx-s1-5462903/trump-brazil-tariff-bolsonaro) on Brazilian imports starting in Aug. 1. Trump posted the warning in a letter on [social media](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114825119138468153), citing what he called a "witch hunt" against Brazil's former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently on trial for trying to overturn the 2022 election. Trump demanded the case be dropped, calling Bolsonaro "a Highly Respected Leader throughout the World." Lula said in an [interview](https://x.com/LulaOficial/status/1943377623247114667) posted to his offical media account that at first he thought the letter from Trump was a fake. "The Brazilian people must be respected. Brazilian justice must be respected." Lula said, "We are a great, sovereign country with a historic tradition of diplomacy with all nations. Brazil will adopt the necessary measures to protect its people and its companies." The U.S. currently runs a [trade surplus](https://www.bea.gov/news/2025/us-international-trade-goods-and-services-april-2025) with Brazil — unlike many of the more than 20 countries that also received tariff warning letters this week. Last year alone, the U.S. [exported more to Brazil](https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/brazil) than it imported. That's why Lula called Trump's claim that the trade relationship was "far from reciprocal" simply inaccurate. While Trump has issued similar tariff threats to other countries, experts say this case is different. Georgetown trade policy professor Marc Busch says using tariffs as political pressure over another country's internal judicial proceedings is highly provocative. "Brazil taking this seriously may escalate in a dramatic and qualitatively different way than Trump has seen with other trade partners," Busch said. ![Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil's president, during a news conference at the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Monday, July 7, 2025.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2667+0+0/resize/%7Bwidth%7D/quality/%7Bquality%7D/format/%7Bformat%7D/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2e%2F66%2Ff101c8034b628893fa505813e415%2Fgettyimages-2223398875.jpg) Lula says his government is exploring retaliation, though Brazil's Finance Minister Fernando Haddad has tried to dial back tensions. In an interview, he said any dispute "can and must be overcome through diplomacy." The last few days has seen an escalation in rhetoric between the two leaders. Earlier in the week Brazil hosted a summit of the [BRICS nations of emerging economies](https://www.npr.org/2025/07/08/nx-s1-5459988/brics-summit-ends-with-calls-for-less-confrontation-in-the-world) — bringing together founding members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with newcomers like Egypt and Indonesia. There, in a pointed response to Trump's tariff threats against BRICS countries, Lula pushed back. "We don't want an emperor — we are sovereign nations," he said. The tariff threats have rattled Brazil's exporters. Gláucio de Castro, a coffee farmer and head of a major growers federation in Minas Gerais, said that while he supports Trump's politics, this move would hurt Brazil's economy. "I agree with Trump's thinking," he said. "But it's not right to hurt our country commercially — it's really harmful to us. Brazil is the world's largest exporter of coffee, and a steep tariff could spike prices for U.S. consumers. The country also exports aircraft, steel, and oil to the U.S., meaning the fallout could stretch across multiple industries.
  • Vanessa Buschschlüter BBC News Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has said he is ready to match any tariffs imposed on Brazil by the United States. Lula was responding to Wednesday's threat by his US counterpart, Donald Trump, to [impose a 50% import tax on Brazilian goods from 1 August.](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c784ee81y4zo) In a letter, Trump cited Brazil's treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro as a trigger for tariff-hike. Bolsonaro is currently on trial for allegedly attempting to stage a coup against Lula after being defeated by him in the 2022 election. Trump referred to Bolsonaro as "a highly respected leader throughout the world". "This Trial should not be taking place," he wrote, calling on Brazil to immediately end the "witch hunt" against the former president. Trump's support for Bolsonaro does not come as a surprise as the two men have long been considered allies. The US president had already slammed Brazil for its treatment of Bolsonaro on Monday, comparing it to the legal cases he himself had faced in US courts. The 50% tariff threat was met with a robust and lengthy response by President Lula. In a post on X, he stressed that Brazil was "a sovereign country with independent institutions and will not accept any tutelage". The Brazilian leader also announced that "any unilateral tariff increases" would be met with reciprocal tariffs imposed on US goods. The US is Brazil's second-largest trade partner after China, so the hike from a tariff rate of 10% to an eye-watering 50% - if it comes into force - would hit the South American nation hard. But Lula also made a point of challenging Trump's assertion that the US had a trade deficit with Brazil, calling it "inaccurate". [Lula's rebuttal is backed up by US government data](https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/brazil), which suggests the US had a goods trade surplus with Brazil of $7.4bn (£5.4bn) in 2024. Brazil is the US's 15th largest trading partner and among its main imports from the US are mineral fuels, aircraft and machinery. For its part, the US imports gas and petroleum, iron, and coffee from Brazil. Brazil was not the only country Trump threatened with higher tariffs on Wednesday. Japan, South Korea and Sri Lanka were among 22 nations which received letters warning of higher levies. But the letter Trump sent to his Brazilian counterpart was the only one focussing matters beyond alleged trade deficits. As well as denouncing the treatment of ex-President Bolsonaro, Trump slammed what he said were "secret and unlawful censorship orders to US social media platforms" which he said Brazil had imposed. Trump Media, which operates the US president's Truth Social platform and is majority-owned by him, is among the US tech companies fighting Brazilian court rulings over orders suspending social media accounts. Lula fought back on that front too, justifying the rulings by arguing that "Brazilian society rejects hateful content, racism, child pornography, scams, fraud, and speeches against human rights and democratic freedom". Rafael Cortez, a political scientist with Brazilian consulting firm Tendências Consultoria, told BBC News Brasil that rather than hurt him, the overly political tone of Trump's letter could end up benefitting Lula. "Those confronting Trump win at home when Trump and other conservative leaders speak out on issues pertaining to their countries. That happened, to a certain degree, in Mexico, and the elections in Canada and Australia," Mr Cortez says of other leaders who have challenged Trump and reaped the rewards in the form of rising popularity levels. Creomar de Souza of the political risk consultancy Dharma Politics told BBC News Mundo's Mariana Schreiber that it would depend on the Lula government coming up with organised and united response if it is to "score a goal" against Trump.
2025-07-18
  • ![Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks to the press at the Federal Senate in Brasilia on July 17, 2025.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5308x3538+0+0/resize/%7Bwidth%7D/quality/%7Bquality%7D/format/%7Bformat%7D/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Fcd%2Fa471168b441ba984196348b841a7%2Fgettyimages-2224823295.jpg) RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The ongoing feud between the U.S. and Brazil escalated on Friday after Brazil's Supreme Court ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro—an ally of Donald Trump—to wear an electronic ankle monitor, citing him as a flight risk. The court says Bolsonaro sought interference from the U.S. president to undermine the Brazilian judiciary—allegations that come amid growing tensions between the two countries. Police raided Bolsonaro's home and party headquarters early Friday morning, fitting the far-right leader with the tracking device. The court also imposed a nighttime and weekend curfew and barred him from contacting foreign diplomats, visiting embassies, or using social media. Bolsonaro, who is facing charges of plotting a coup to remain in power after losing Brazil's 2022 election, called the measures a "supreme humiliation." Speaking outside a federal police station, he denied planning to flee and claimed that the $14,000 found in his home was legally obtained. On Thursday night President Trump posted a letter on his Truth Social platform demanding the case be dropped. He has repeatedly threatened [50% tariffs](https://www.npr.org/2025/07/10/nx-s1-5463508/brazil-lula-trump-tariffs) on Brazilian goods if the prosecution continues. "I will be watching closely," Trump wrote. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva fired back, calling Trump's threats "blackmail" and vowing not to bow to foreign pressure. "No _gringo_ is going to give orders to this president," [Lula told a cheering crowd](https://x.com/LulaOficial/status/1945951986912010634) using the common Brazilian slang for foreigners. Lula says Brazil is weighing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, including tech firms. The confrontation has helped revive his flagging popularity, as many Brazilians view Trump's remarks as overreach. "U.S. observers are underestimating the power of Brazilian nationalism," said political scientist Oliver Stuenkel of FGV University. "There's a strong response to what's seen as aggressive interference by Trump." Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the Supreme Court judge who is overseeing Bolsonaro's case, is increasingly a target of conservative U.S. figures for his crackdown on misinformation and social media platforms. Trump's media company, Trump Media and Technology Group, has even filed suit against him in a Florida court, accusing him of violating free speech. Meanwhile, Bolsonaro's son Eduardo—currently in the U.S.—has been lobbying Trump to pressure Brazil's institutions. In a [statement posted on social media](https://www.instagram.com/p/DMQPPlKR3GI/) Eduardo called for Brazil to "act like a dignified democracy." But he's now barred from speaking to his father. The court's order prohibits Bolsonaro from contacting others facing charges, including his son, who also claims to be a victim of political persecution.
  • Watch: Police search home of Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro A court has ordered Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro to wear an ankle tag and put him under curfew over fears he might abscond while standing trial. He governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022 and is accused of plotting a coup to prevent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office in January 2023. He denies any wrongdoing. It follows US President Donald Trump's attempts to quash the case, which he has called a "witch hunt", by threatening steep tariffs on Brazilian goods. Bolsonaro said the court restrictions amounted to "supreme humiliation" and that he had never considered leaving Brazil. On Friday, police raided his home and political headquarters on orders from the Supreme Court. Judge Alexandre de Moraes also ordered that Bolsonaro be banned from social media and barred from communicating with his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, who has been lobbying for him in the US, and foreign ambassadors, diplomats or embassies. The ex-president will be placed under 24-hour surveillance and have to comply with a nighttime curfew. Judge Moraes said Bolsonaro was acting deliberately and illegally, together with his son Eduardo, to have sanctions imposed on Brazilian public officials. In a statement, Bolsonaro's lawyers expressed "surprise and outrage" at the court's decision, adding that the former president had "always complied with the court's orders". According to the Federal Police, Bolsonaro has attempted to hinder the trial and undertaken actions that constitute coercion, obstruction of justice and an attack on national sovereignty. Last week, the [US president threatened a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c784ee81y4zo) from 1 August, directly citing Brazil's treatment of Bolsonaro. Lula hit back, saying he would [match any tariffs imposed on Brazil by the US](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62dvyv60z7o). In a post on X, the president said Brazil was a "sovereign country with independent institutions" and "no one is above the law". On Thursday, Trump posted a letter on Truth Social that he had sent to Bolsonaro in which he said the criminal case amounted to political persecution and that his tariff threat was aimed at exerting pressure on Brazilian authorities to drop the charges. The US president has compared the prosecution to legal cases he himself faced between his two presidential terms. Bolsonaro is standing trial along with seven accused over events which culminated in the storming of government buildings by his supporters a week after Lula's inauguration in January 2023. The eight defendants are accused of five charges: attempting to stage a coup, involvement in an armed criminal organisation, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, aggravated damage and deterioration of listed heritage. If found guilty, Bolsonaro, 70, could face decades behind bars. ![](https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/bbcdotcom/web/20250711-084946-a521911844-web-2.25.0-9/grey-placeholder.png)![Reuters US President Donald Trump hosts a working dinner with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at the Mar-a-Lago resort ](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/739e/live/19e8e020-63e8-11f0-82cf-cfdaec0ea16c.jpg.webp)Reuters Bolsonaro and Trump enjoyed a friendly relationship when their presidencies overlapped The former president has consistently denied the charges against him, calling them "grave and baseless" and claiming to be the victim of "political persecution" aimed at preventing him running for president again in 2026. Speaking in court in June, [Bolsonaro said a coup was an "abominable thing"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0j73573v4qo) and there had "never been talk of a coup" between him and his military commanders. He narrowly lost the presidential election to his left-wing rival Lula in 2022. Bolsonaro never publicly acknowledged defeat. Many of his supporters spent weeks camped outside army barracks in an attempt to convince the military to prevent Lula from being sworn in. A week after Lula's inauguration, on 8 January 2023, [thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed Brazil's Congress, Supreme Court and the presidential palace](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-64204860) in what federal investigators say was an attempted coup. Bolsonaro was in the US at the time and has always denied any links to the rioters. A federal investigation into the riots and the events leading up to them was launched. Investigators subsequently said they had found evidence of a "criminal organisation" which had "acted in a coordinated manner" to keep then-President Bolsonaro in power. Their 884-page report, which was unsealed in November 2024, alleged that "then-President Jair Messias Bolsonaro planned, acted and was directly and effectively aware of the actions of the criminal organisation aiming to launch a coup d'etat and eliminate the democratic rule of law". Brazil's Attorney General Paulo Gonet went further in his report published in February, accusing Bolsonaro of not just being aware of but leading those that he says sought to overthrow Lula.