By Gloria Nosa
Offshore News Correspondent
In a fiery statement that has sent ripples through international diplomatic circles, former U.S. President Donald Trump has condemned the arrest of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, calling it a “grave injustice” and warning of “serious consequences” for U.S.-Brazil relations if the situation escalates further.
Trump, who has long shared a political kinship with Bolsonaro—often referred to as the “Trump of the Tropics”—denounced the Brazilian authorities’ actions as politically motivated and a dangerous sign of what he termed “authoritarian overreach in Latin America’s largest democracy.”
“The unjust arrest of a great man and patriot, Jair Bolsonaro, is an assault on freedom and democracy,” Trump declared during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago. “The Biden administration’s silence is shameful. If the United States doesn’t step in to protect our allies, we risk losing a key partner in the region and sending a terrible message to other freedom-loving nations.”
Bolsonaro was taken into custody earlier this week in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged coup plotting and interference in the 2022 Brazilian presidential elections. Brazilian prosecutors accuse him and several aides of planning to overturn the election results that saw President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva return to power.
Trump, himself facing multiple legal battles at home, drew parallels between his own indictments and Bolsonaro’s arrest, painting both as victims of political witch hunts. “The radical left is trying to silence and eliminate their opponents by using law enforcement like a weapon,” he said. “First, they came for me. Now they’re going after Jair. This has to stop.”
International response has been mixed. While European leaders have largely remained neutral, many Latin American governments have expressed support for Brazil’s judicial process. However, Trump’s comments have sparked backlash from current U.S. officials who insist Washington will not interfere in the legal proceedings of a sovereign nation.
“President Lula’s government is acting within its laws and constitution,” said a U.S. State Department spokesperson. “While we value our longstanding partnership with Brazil, the United States respects its democratic institutions and legal independence.”
Nonetheless, Trump’s warning of a potential diplomatic fallout has raised concerns in Washington and Brasilia. Analysts suggest that if Trump wins the 2024 U.S. election, his administration could potentially shift U.S. policy toward Brazil in a more adversarial direction, especially if Bolsonaro’s legal troubles deepen.
For now, Bolsonaro remains in custody pending further investigation, and Trump’s intervention has only heightened the political stakes, both domestically in Brazil and in the broader context of global conservative alliances.
