The government of Brazil has strongly condemned recent statements by White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, who suggested that the United States might not rule out using force if former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is convicted in his ongoing trial.

"The Brazilian government condemns the use of economic sanctions or threats of force against our democracy," Brazil's Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued Tuesday, September 9.

Leavitt’s comments came during a press briefing where she defended US President Donald Trump's past imposition of tariffs and sanctions on Brazil, arguing that they were intended to protect freedom of expression.

She added that the US "would not hesitate to use economic and military power" to uphold that principle.

Read more: US planning new sanctions on Brazil, son of Bolsonaro says

Brazil reaffirms commitment to democratic institutions

Brazilian officials rejected the remarks as interference in domestic affairs, stressing that defending democracy begins with respecting the outcome of elections.

"That is the duty of the three branches of government of the Republic, which will not be intimidated by any form of attack on our democracy," the Foreign Ministry said.

Bolsonaro, who served as Brazil’s president from 2019 to 2023, lost the 2022 presidential election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. One week following Lula’s inauguration, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed Brazil’s Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential palace on January 8, 2023. Nearly 2,000 people were arrested in the unrest.

In November 2024, Brazil’s federal police charged Bolsonaro and several former officials with orchestrating a coup attempt and leading a criminal organization. The former president now faces a possible prison sentence.

On Tuesday, Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes declared there was “ample evidence” of Bolsonaro’s guilt and became the first of five justices to vote in the case.

Read more: Brazil judge orders 24/7 watch on Bolsonaro citing flight risk

Justice Flavio Dino followed with another vote in favor of conviction. Three justices have yet to cast their votes, with a final verdict expected by Thursday.

Bolsonaro, currently under house arrest, has denied all charges and did not attend the latest hearing.

Rift grows in Brazil–US relations over judicial independence

The trial and the reaction from Washington have added tension to Brazil–US relations, with Brazilian officials pushing back against what they view as foreign pressure on their legal system.

Despite the contentious remarks, Brazilian courts appear determined to continue with the trial uninterrupted. As the verdict nears, the political divide surrounding Bolsonaro’s trial, both domestically and internationally, is likely to deepen.