U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Brazilian authorities to cease their legal actions against former President Jair Bolsonaro, labeling the prosecution a “WITCH HUNT”.
Bolsonaro, who held office from 2019 to 2022, is currently facing trial for allegedly attempting a coup against the sitting President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The former president has categorically denied any involvement in such a plot.
Trump’s Defense of Bolsonaro
In a recent post on social media, Trump asserted that Bolsonaro was “not guilty of anything, except having fought for THE PEOPLE”, urging prosecutors to “LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE!” This strong statement from Trump highlights his support for Bolsonaro, whom he described as a “strong leader” who “truly loved his country”. Trump drew parallels between Bolsonaro’s legal troubles and his own experiences with legal challenges during his presidential terms.
“This is nothing more, or less, than an attack on a Political Opponent – Something I know much about! It happened to me, times 10,” Trump stated.
In response to Trump’s comments, Brazilian President Lula asserted that Brazil is a sovereign nation that will not tolerate foreign interference. He emphasized, “No one is above the law. Especially those that threaten freedom and the rule of law” in a message posted on X.
Political Reactions in Brazil
Bolsonaro expressed gratitude for Trump’s backing, labeling the case against him as “clear political persecution”. Meanwhile, Gleisi Hoffmann, Minister of Institutional Affairs, retorted that “the time when Brazil was subservient to the US was the time of Bolsonaro”. She urged the U.S. president to focus on his own domestic issues and respect Brazil’s judicial independence.
This exchange of remarks comes as President Lula hosted representatives from China, Russia, and other countries during a BRICS summit held in Rio de Janeiro, while Trump had previously threatened to impose additional tariffs on nations he views as adhering to “anti-American” policies.
During their overlapping presidencies, Trump and Bolsonaro maintained a friendly rapport, meeting at the White House in 2019. However, both leaders have since faced electoral defeats and have not openly admitted to their losses. Following Lula’s inauguration in January 2023, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia, an act federal investigators have characterized as an attempted coup. At the time, Bolsonaro was in the United States and has consistently denied any association with the rioters.
Despite being barred from holding public office until 2030 due to unfounded claims regarding Brazil’s voting system, Bolsonaro has declared his intention to contest this ban and run for a second term in the 2026 elections. Last month, during his court appearance, Bolsonaro denounced a coup as an “abominable thing”, and he could potentially face decades in prison if found guilty of the charges against him.