Trump Calls for End to Bolsonaro's Prosecution, Accuses Brazil of Political Targeting

In a charged political landscape, Donald Trump expresses solidarity with Bolsonaro amid ongoing trials, igniting discussions on sovereignty, justice, and international relations.

Former President of the United States, Donald Trump, publicly urged Brazilian authorities to cease their prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro, insisting that the legal actions represent a "WITCH HUNT." Bolsonaro, who served as Brazil's president from 2019 to 2022, is facing allegations of conspiring to overthrow the current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He has categorically denied any accusations regarding involvement in a coup attempt.

In a post on his social media platform, Trump asserted that Bolsonaro is "not guilty of anything, except having fought for THE PEOPLE" and called for prosecutors to "LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE!" The Brazilian President, Lula, countered Trump’s remarks, emphasizing Brazil's sovereignty. He stated that the country "won't accept interference or instruction from anyone," underscoring that "no one is above the law," especially those who threaten democracy.

Bolsonaro, thankful for Trump’s support, characterized his legal challenges as “clear political persecution.” In response, Gleisi Hoffmann, Brazil's Minister of Institutional Affairs, retorted that Brazil's time of subservience to the US ended with Bolsonaro's presidency. She emphasized the need for Trump to focus on American issues rather than exerting influence over Brazil's judiciary.

This exchange occurs amidst Lula hosting pivotal representatives from China, Russia, and other nations at a Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro, an event where Trump had earlier threatened to impose additional tariffs on countries he deems are aligned with "anti-American" policies.

The relationship between Trump and Bolsonaro, marked by mutual admiration, included their meeting at the White House in 2019. Both leaders experienced electoral losses and subsequently refused to accept their defeats publicly. Following Lula's inauguration, a mob of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília, an act investigators claim was a coup attempt, with Bolsonaro at the time residing in the United States.

Bolsonaro has been banned from holding public office until 2030 due to false claims of electoral fraud but expresses his intent to contest the ban in hopes of running again in the presidential election slated for 2026. In a recent court appearance, Bolsonaro condemned the notion of a coup as an "abominable thing." Should he be convicted, he may face decades in prison.