Brazil’s Lula: Trump Was ‘Not Elected to Be Emperor of the World’/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has hit back at President Donald Trump’s tariff threats, saying that his American counterpart was elected as the leader of the United States and “not to be the emperor of the world.” Lula has sharply criticized U.S. visa sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court justices involved in former President Bolsonaro’s trial. The Trump administration’s move has sparked a sovereignty dispute between the two nations. Lula called the visa restrictions arbitrary and an attack on Brazil’s judicial independence.
Lula Criticizes U.S. Over Bolsonaro Trial Sanctions: Quick Looks
- U.S. imposes visa bans on Brazilian justices, citing anti-democratic actions
- Justice Alexandre de Moraes and seven others affected
- Lula denounces action as foreign interference in judiciary
- Bolsonaro accused of plotting coup to overturn 2022 election loss
- Solicitor General Messias says Prosecutor General also sanctioned
- Trump defends Bolsonaro, calls charges politically motivated
- Lula affirms commitment to democracy and rule of law
- Sanctions follow U.S. tariff increase on Brazilian imports
Deep Look: Brazil-U.S. Diplomatic Rift Grows Over Bolsonaro Trial Sanctions
BRASILIA — President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is forcefully rejecting the Trump administration’s decision to impose visa sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court officials connected to the criminal case against former President Jair Bolsonaro. Calling the move “arbitrary” and “baseless,” Lula accused the United States of crossing a diplomatic line by interfering in Brazil’s independent judiciary.
Lula da Silva has hit back at Donald Trump’s tariff threats, saying that his American counterpart was elected as the leader of the United States and “not to be the emperor of the world.”
The visa bans, announced Friday by the U.S. State Department, target Justice Alexandre de Moraes—who is overseeing Bolsonaro’s trial—as well as his family and several other members of Brazil’s top court. Washington claims the sanctions respond to judicial actions taken against Bolsonaro, a key Trump ally who stands accused of trying to stage a coup after losing the 2022 election.
In a statement released Saturday, Lula condemned what he framed as an infringement on Brazilian sovereignty:
“No form of intimidation or threat, from anyone, will compromise the mission of Brazil’s institutions: to defend and uphold the democratic rule of law.”
The Brazilian leader’s response underscores rising diplomatic tensions with the United States as his administration rallies in defense of judicial independence.
Speaking exclusively to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Thursday, da Silva, who is widely known as Lula, said that Trump’s threats had broken away from “protocol” and argued that his predecessor’s fate cannot be part of trade negotiations.
“The judiciary branch of power in Brazil is independent. The president of the Republic has no influence whatsoever,” he said, adding that Bolsonaro “is not being judged personally. He is being judged by the acts he tried to organize a coup d’etat.”
Sanctions Expand Beyond Moraes
Solicitor General Jorge Messias confirmed that Brazil’s Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet was also affected by the visa revocations. In a strongly worded statement posted late Friday, Messias labeled the bans a “sordid conspiratorial act” designed to intimidate a sovereign nation’s justice system.
Government Institutional Relations Minister Gleisi Hoffmann later revealed that seven other Supreme Court justices were included on the list. Those affected are:
- Luis Roberto Barroso
- Dias Toffoli
- Cristiano Zanin
- Flavio Dino
- Carmen Lucia
- Edson Fachin
- Gilmar Mendes
The Supreme Court and Prosecutor General’s Office have not commented publicly on the U.S. sanctions.
Trump’s Role and the Broader Fallout
Donald Trump has repeatedly denounced the legal proceedings against Bolsonaro, framing them as a “witch hunt” intended to silence political dissent—language echoing his own defense against criminal charges in the U.S.
In a letter sent last week, Trump announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods beginning August 1. He introduced the economic move with sharp criticism of the Bolsonaro trial, further intensifying pressure on the Lula government.
Trump’s alignment with Bolsonaro, particularly in the face of accusations that the former Brazilian president attempted to disrupt the democratic transfer of power, has added to global scrutiny over Brazil’s internal political conflicts and Washington’s foreign policy approach.
Bolsonaro’s Trial and Coup Allegations
Jair Bolsonaro is facing trial before the Supreme Court over allegations that he attempted to orchestrate a coup to prevent Lula from assuming office in January 2023. While he denies any direct involvement in a coup, Bolsonaro has admitted to participating in meetings aimed at challenging the election outcome.
The former president’s legal troubles have become a flashpoint for partisan debate in both Brazil and the U.S., with Bolsonaro and his supporters portraying the judiciary’s actions as politically driven persecution.
Strained Bilateral Relations
The Lula administration’s response highlights growing unease with Trump’s foreign policy posture, particularly when it intersects with Brazil’s domestic legal affairs. Lula has consistently warned against foreign attempts to influence the country’s democratic institutions.
The U.S. decision to sanction Brazilian officials involved in judicial proceedings marks a significant escalation, one that threatens to reshape relations between Latin America’s largest democracy and the United States.
While the Trump administration has not indicated whether it will expand sanctions, the episode has already triggered a political backlash and calls from Brazilian officials for international respect and non-interference in sovereign legal matters.
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