US President Donald Trump on Friday criticised Brazil, accusing its government of unfairly targeting his right-wing ally Jair Bolsonaro regarding his involvement in a supposed coup attempt.
This week, Trump announced major tariffs on Brazilian imports as he advocates for Bolsonaro against Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Bolsonaro, often referred to as the “Trump of the Tropics” for emulating the Republicans’ hard-right populism, is facing trial for allegedly conspiring to overturn his defeat in the 2022 elections.
The situation resembles the now-abandoned prosecution of Trump for not accepting his 2020 election loss and the January 6, 2021, attack on Congress by his supporters.
“They’re treating President Bolsonaro very unfairly,” Trump told reporters, calling him “a good man.”
“He was very tough in negotiation, but he was also very honest. And I know the honest ones, and I know the crooked ones.”
In a letter to Lula on Wednesday, Trump defended the imposition of trade tariffs, stating that Bolsonaro should not face trial and expressing concerns over what he sees as “a very unfair trade relationship” with Brazil.
However, official statistics from Brazil reveal a consistent trade surplus favouring the United States spanning nearly two decades.
Lula, who narrowly defeated Bolsonaro in the 2022 election, has responded to Trump’s “interference,” asserting that “no one is above the law.”
