RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday not to meddle in Brazil’s October presidential election after Trump made his latest criticism of Brazil over judicial moves against Lula’s political rivals.The remarks show the escalating tensions between Brazil and the U.S. after the Trump administration proposed further tariffs against the South American country and recently classified two drug-trafficking groups as foreign terrorist organizations — moves that Lula opposes. Lula has frequently defended Brazil’s sovereignty since Trump imposed tariffs on the country last year citing a “ witch-hunt trial ” against his ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro. Lula also has complained about U.S. sanctions imposed on Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes over what the Trump administration called his politically motivated role in prosecuting Bolsonaro, who was convicted of attempting a coup to try to stay in power after losing the 2022 election to Lula.
Trump said Wednesday that Brazil had become “dangerous politically” and that the government wanted to arrest “Bolsonaro junior,” who was “doing well in the polls.”
2 MIN READ
