Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is reportedly looking to incoming US leader Donald Trump for support in making a political comeback in Brazil's 2026 elections despite facing charges related to a coup plot.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Bolsonaro is counting on Trump to pressure Brazilian judges to delay enforcing a court ruling that bars him from running for office until 2030. The ruling stems from Bolsonaro's unsubstantiated claims about Brazil's voting system prior to his loss in the 2022 elections.

"Trump is back, and it's a sign we'll be back too," Bolsonaro said, as cited by the newspaper, which also noted his close contact with Trump since the Republican's US election victory earlier this month. A spokesperson for Trump's administration did not respond to a request for comment, the report added.

'Tropical Trump'

During his presidency from 2019 to 2023, Bolsonaro, often referred to as the "Tropical Trump," built a reputation as a hard-right populist. Since leaving office, he has remained politically active, recently campaigning for the right-wing Liberal Party ahead of Brazil's October municipal elections.

Bolsonaro, like Trump, attributes his legal troubles to alleged political persecution. Brazilian authorities have accused him of involvement in a 2022 plot to prevent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from assuming office and of being aware of a plan to assassinate the current president.

The accusations, revealed in a police report released this week, implicate Bolsonaro alongside 36 alleged co-conspirators. Brazil's attorney general is currently reviewing the evidence to determine whether the charges are substantiated.

Brazil arrests officers convicted of plotting coup, Lula assassination

Last week, Brazilian police detained five officers accused of involvement in a coup plot aimed at overthrowing the government and assassinating President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. 

The investigation revealed that the conspirators also intended to target Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Brazilian media reported that those arrested included four military personnel and one police officer.  

Police confirmed the execution of five arrest warrants, along with three search and seizure operations. Additional measures include confiscating the suspects' passports and restricting their communication with others.

According to Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who approved the arrests, the police investigation found that military personnel trained with the nation's special forces, as well as a retired senior official, were involved in the coup plot. 

"The objective was to prevent the inauguration of the legitimately elected government and undermine the free exercise of democracy and the authority of Brazil’s judiciary," he stated, adding that the acts, which peaked between November and December 2022 in light of the elections, intended to orchestrate a broader plan for a coup d'etat. 

Last Tuesday, reports emerged that two senior Brazilian military leaders had informed police earlier this year that former President Jair Bolsonaro had proposed a plan to retain power after losing the 2022 election. However, both leaders rejected the plan and warned Bolsonaro they would arrest him if he attempted to proceed, based on judicial documents released in March.

The statements by the two officials further complicate Bolsonaro's legal challenges, as prosecutors work to establish connections between the far-right leader and January 8, 2023, riots that vandalized government buildings in Brasilia, just a week after Lula's inauguration.