Lula tells Trump: Brazil’s vote belongs to Brazilians
Lula stands firm, defending Brazil’s voice and sovereignty
On Wednesday, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva issued a pointed warning to U.S. The admonition came after Trump renewed his criticisms of judicial actions targeting allies of former president Jair Bolsonaro — a line of commentary that has sharply strained relations between Brasília and Washington.
The exchange is the latest sign of fraying ties. Over the past year, the Trump administration has levied tariffs on Brazilian goods, branded two of Brazil’s largest criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations, and even publicly questioned the fairness of legal actions against Bolsonaro’s circle. For Lula, each move has felt like a challenge to Brazil’s sovereignty — one he has repeatedly pushed back against.
At a news conference after the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, a journalist read Trump’s latest remarks to Lula. Trump had said Brazil had become “dangerous politically” and suggested the government wanted to arrest “Bolsonaro junior,” who he said was “doing well in the polls.” The comments caused immediate confusion and irritation in Brasília. Lula brusquely noted that Trump “doesn’t know Brazil well,” adding that if the American president’s view of the country is shaped by the Bolsonaro family, “he doesn’t know Brazil.”
Part of the tension stems from recent convictions and prosecutions in Brazil’s courts. On Tuesday, a Supreme Court ruling found Eduardo Bolsonaro, a former lawmaker and one of Jair Bolsonaro’s sons, guilty of coercion for improperly trying to influence the trial of his father — a conviction that carries a sentence of four years and two months in prison. That decision, and others in Brasília, touched raw nerves among Bolsonaro supporters and prompted officials in Washington to engage with the ex-president’s circle; Eduardo and another son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, recently met U.S. officials in Washington, including Trump.
Complicating matters further, Washington designated the drug factions First Command Capital and Red Command as foreign terrorist organizations shortly after those visits. Lula criticised the move, arguing that while those groups inflict terror on local communities, their motivation is profit rather than political ideology — and that labeling them terrorists mischaracterises the problem and risks diplomatic backlash.
Then there’s trade. The Trump administration has proposed a new 25% tariff on Brazilian imports, accusing Brazil of unfair trade practices. The threat came despite Lula’s earlier trip to Washington to plead for restraint. For Lula, tariffs are not just economic pressure; they are perceived as a punitive gesture that disrespects a sovereign nation engaged in its own democratic processes.
It also signals a test for regional and global audiences — whether Washington will continue to push on issues tied to law enforcement and trade, and how Brazil will respond when its sovereignty feels challenged.
As October approaches, the rhetoric is likely to intensify. Lula’s message was both firm and personal: Brazil will not welcome outside interference in its elections. For voters, diplomats and markets watching from afar, the exchange underscores an uncomfortable truth — great-power pressure and domestic political battles now intersect in ways that could reshape both bilateral relations and the outlook for Brazil’s democracy.