 "Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Reuters File")
US President Donald Trump on Monday lashed out at Brazilian authorities, accusing them of conducting a “witch hunt” against his close right-wing ally Jair Bolsonaro.
The comments drew swift backlash from Brasília, which leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva setting diplomatic niceties aside and hitting back at Trump’s “interference”, adding that “no one is above the law.”
Bolsonaro faces trial before Brazil’s Supreme Court for allegedly orchestrating a “criminal organisation” that sought to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election, which he lost to leftist leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump posted, “Brazil is doing a terrible thing on their treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro. I have watched, as has the World, as they have done nothing but come after him, day after day, night after night, month after month, year after year!”
Defending the far-right leader, Trump added, “He is not guilty of anything, except having fought for THE PEOPLE. I have gotten to know Jair Bolsonaro, and he was a strong leader, who truly loved his country — also, a very tough negotiator on TRADE.”
Trump pointed to Bolsonaro’s rising popularity, claiming “his election was very close and now, he is leading in the polls.” He said the trial is “nothing more, or less, than an attack on a political opponent — something I know much about!”
He continued, “The great people of Brazil will not stand for what they are doing to their former president. I’ll be watching the witch hunt of Jair Bolsonaro, his family, and thousands of his supporters very closely.”
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More ShortsCalling for democratic resolution, Trump said, “The only trial that should be happening is a trial by the voters of Brazil — it’s called an election.”
According to prosecutors, the alleged coup plot failed to materialise due to a lack of support from the military high command.
Bolsonaro faces a possible sentence of up to 40 years in prison.
He claims to be the victim of political persecution to prevent him from running for president next year, despite being barred from running until 2030 for spreading misinformation about the electoral system.
The case carries echoes of Trump’s own prosecution over the January 6, 2021 attacks, when Trump supporters overran the US Congress to try to reverse his election loss.
Trump pleaded not guilty and the case was abandoned when he was reelected president.
Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo praised Trump’s post and said it “would not be the only news coming from the United States in the near future.”
Trump’s comments also came as Lula hosted representatives from China, Russia, Iran and other nations for a BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Leaders attending the summit criticized Trump’s tariffs and his bombing of Iran, drawing the US president’s ire and a threat of 10 percent additional tariffs on each Brics-aligned country.
With inputs from agencies