Trump's Bolsonaro defense prompts sharp Lula response
3 Min Read
Trump’s condemnation of Bolsonaro’s coup trial has deepened U.S.-Brazil tensions, prompting a sharp rebuke from President Lula, who rejected foreign interference and reaffirmed Brazil’s judicial sovereignty.
-
A supporter of former President Jair Bolsonaro wears a mask of US President Donald Trump attends a demonstration demanding amnesty for those arrested for 2023's alleged coup attempt, in Sao Paulo, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP)
US-Brazil relations soured Monday after US President Donald Trump condemned the ongoing coup trial of his right-wing ally, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Trump’s comments, delivered via Truth Social, accused Brazilian authorities of a politically motivated "WITCH HUNT", prompting a swift and defiant response from Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Trump’s comments, Bolsonaro coup plot trial
Trump’s remarks came as Bolsonaro faces trial for orchestrating a coup plot to remain in power following his 2022 electoral defeat. If convicted, the 70-year-old former president could face up to 40 years in prison. Prosecutors argue the alleged plan collapsed due to lack of military support.
Echoing his own legal battles, Trump wrote, “It happened to me, times 10,” claiming Bolsonaro is the target of relentless political persecution. Trump’s own January 6 case was dropped after his re-election restored presidential immunity.
Lula responds from BRICS summit
Lula, speaking at the close of the BRICS summit, dismissed Trump’s remarks as unwelcome interference. “The world has changed. We don’t want an emperor,” he stated, reaffirming Brazil’s commitment to judicial independence.
He added, “This is a set of countries that wants to find another way of organizing the world from the economic perspective,” underlining the growing significance of BRICS as an alternative to Western-led institutions.
Trump’s threat of imposing 10% tariffs on BRICS nations further inflamed tensions. Lula responded by calling for a move away from dollar dominance and declared, “Borders must not be moved by force.”
A defesa da democracia no Brasil é um tema que compete aos brasileiros. Somos um país soberano. Não aceitamos interferência ou tutela de quem quer que seja. Possuímos instituições sólidas e independentes. Ninguém está acima da lei. Sobretudo, os que atentam contra a liberdade e o…
— Lula (@LulaOficial) July 7, 2025
Expanding pattern of political interference
Trump’s comments on the Bolsonaro trial form part of a broader pattern of interfering in allies' judicial affairs. In late June 2025, Trump demanded the cancellation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial, explicitly tying US military aid to the outcome.
“We are not going to stand for this,” Trump warned, a message that reverberated in Tel Aviv and beyond. The move was condemned by Israeli opposition figures and viewed internationally as an erosion of diplomatic norms.
The Trump-Bolsonaro partnership has long exemplified the transnational coordination of right-wing populism. Bolsonaro, often dubbed the “Trump of the Tropics,” mirrored Trump’s tactics during Brazil’s 2022 election, spreading disinformation and casting doubt on electoral integrity. The alliance has extended to their families, with Eduardo Bolsonaro fostering close ties with Trump’s inner circle.
A legacy of interference
Beyond his intervention in "Israel" and Brazil, Trump has repeatedly meddled in the internal affairs of sovereign nations, drawing widespread criticism for undermining democratic norms. In Germany, his vice president publicly endorsed the far-right AfD party during the 2025 federal elections, prompting condemnation from German officials.
Trump's administration also backed Poland’s nationalist candidate Karol Nawrocki, with direct endorsements from US officials, contributing to his electoral victory. In the UK, Trump accused the Labour Party of election interference, despite having personally interfered in British politics during past elections.
