Lula Urges Trump Not to Interfere in Brazil’s Upcoming Presidential Election

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned US President Donald Trump on Wednesday not to meddle in Brazil’s October presidential election after Trump criticized the judiciary’s actions against Lula’s political rivals.

The tension between Brazil and the United States has risen following the Trump administration’s proposal of additional tariffs on Brazil and its classification of two Brazilian drug‑trafficking groups as foreign terrorist organisations — measures Lula opposes.

Since imposing tariffs last year, Lula has defended Brazil’s sovereignty, rejecting what he called a “witch‑hunt trial” targeting his ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro, and criticizing US sanctions on Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, whom the administration said had a politically motivated role in prosecuting Bolsonaro, who was convicted of attempting a coup after losing the 2022 election.

Lula reiterated that Brazil’s electoral process is solely Brazil’s business and urged Trump not to interfere.

During a news conference after the G7 summit in Evian‑les‑Bains, a journalist read Trump’s remarks to Lula. Lula responded that Trump “doesn’t know Brazil well,” adding that even if Trump admired the Bolsonaro family, it would not affect Brazil’s elections.

Trump claimed that Brazil had become “dangerously political” and suggested the government intended to arrest “Bolsonaro junior,” who was performing well in the polls, though this likely referred to Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, Lula’s election opponent, who has not faced arrest.

On Tuesday, Brazil’s Supreme Court convicted former lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro, the former president’s son, of coercion related to his father’s coup trial and sentenced him to four years and two months in prison. The court found that he illegally lobbied the US government to pressure Brazilian officials and halt the trial.

The US administration recently designated Brazil’s largest drug‑trafficking groups — First Command Capital and Red Command — as foreign terrorist organisations. Lula criticized the designation, arguing that while these groups terrorize local populations, they are profit‑driven rather than politically motivated, and therefore do not meet the definition of terrorist organisations.

The US also proposed a 25 % tariff on Brazilian imports, claiming the country engages in unreasonable trade practices, despite Lula’s recent visit to Washington aimed at persuading Trump not to impose further tariffs. Lula condemned the tariff as disrespectful and said Trump still behaved like an emperor, noting that they were negotiating an agreement.

(FRANCE 24 with AP)

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