Trump’s interference in the inner workings of the Brazilian government is the ultimate example of his colossal hubris. It is simply stunning that he thinks he has the right to do this:
President Donald Trump is intensely interested in the criminal case against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of planning a military coup attempt. Trump and his administration have repeatedly accused Brazilian officials of a political “witch hunt” against Bolsonaro and demanded they drop their case.
Bolsonaro, a far-right leader whose supporters stormed government buildings in 2023 following his 2022 electoral defeat, allegedly planned to assassinate Brazilian President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva and multiple others as part of his attempt to remain in power.
How is Trump pressuring Brazil? The Trump administration took two new steps on Wednesday. First, the Treasury Department sanctioned Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes under the Global Magnitsky Act, a law intended to target foreigners accused of serious human rights violations. (The department alleges violations by de Moraes, including regarding Bolsonaro’s prosecution, but nothing like what the law is normally used for.)
Second, Trump imposed 50 percent tariffs on Brazil, effective immediately rather than on August 1. Brazil has a long-running trade deficit with the US, something Trump claims to want, which makes the tariffs an especially remarkable step.
This is nuts. Trump is doing this tariff nonsense based upon the fatuous assertion that we are in an economic “emergency.” How does Brazil’s government indicating their former president have anything to do with that? It’s clearly just Trump trying to do a favor for his buddy.
How has Brazil responded?
So far, with defiance. Earlier this month, Lula declared that “No gringo is going to give orders to this president,” and Bolsonaro’s trial continues. Brazilians appear to be on his side: Lula’s support has risen in recent polls following Trump’s threats.
All the institutions and most of the countries are appeasing Trump with flattery, telling him that he’s a big winner even though he’s a dundering fool. And all it’s doing is making him more drunk with power and full of hubris. People need to step up and say no. If everyone had banded together at the beginning and refused to play his stupid game we’d all be in a different position today.
Good for Lula. I hope he hangs tough.