Politicians from the center and even allies of (-RJ) assess that Brazil’s is a setback for the senator’s presidential campaign, who has become a target of the government () since the announcement of the measure.
The suggestion that the USA apply new surcharges to Brazil came from the USTR, the American body responsible for international trade, as a result of an investigation into alleged practices harmful to the country. The decision on whether or not to implement the tariffs rests with the president of , .
Those around Flávio say they believe in a game changer for the senator, despite identifying disorientation and omission in the first public responses. As the Bolsonarista, his allies try to distance him from the approaching crisis, but have not yet established a defense narrative on the networks.
The senator released a video to try to reposition himself in the crisis. In the recording, he claimed to have advocated for Trump to abandon new tariffs, tried to rescue the criminal factions’ agenda, which was beneficial to him, and distanced himself from the measure by saying that it involves other countries and precedes his visit to Trump.
“An investigation that began in 2025, long before my visit to the United States last week. The reality is that this tariff is from Lula, due to his aggressive tone towards the United States, due to his anti-American speech”, he said.
Flávio stated that he sent a letter to the US government asking that the tariffs not be applied and made himself available to Lula to help him with this.
Members of the center claim that the new tariff could even cancel out payments collected by Flávio after last week. Presidents of previously independent parties in the national dispute believe that the senator was disoriented after the Master scandal and did not consider the consequences when approaching the American at this time.
In the assessment of these leaders, Flávio did not take into account the negative effect on the economy of the designation of CV and CV (Comando Vermelho) as terrorist organizations. After the pre-candidate’s meeting with Trump, the senator boasted of having had influence on the White House’s decision.
Now, these bosses from the center point out that Flávio tends to melt down with the announcement of a new tariff. They also warn that a possible offensive against Pix by the USA could further harm Flávio’s situation.
This Tuesday (2), the Lula government started to use the possible new tariff as a way to wear down Flávio and reinforce the defense of sovereignty, arguing that the senator wants to hand over the country to the United States, in addition to .
In the opinion of Flávio’s allies, the size of the damage to the senator’s candidacy will depend on whether the tariffs are actually applied or not. They are also betting that the Bolsonarista should continue to score as , which will maintain market support for him.
A publication by Trump this Tuesday has also been used by Bolsonarists in favor of Flávio. The American president wrote that it was good to welcome Flávio to the White House and that the senator is an “intelligent young man who loves his country very much.”
For politicians heard by SheetHowever, there are a series of contradictions that harm Flávio’s good relationship with Trump — at the same time that the American president responded to Bolsonar’s request in relation to factions, he ignored it in relation to tariffs.
The temporal coincidence between Flávio’s visit to Trump and the announcement of possible new tariffs was also explored by the left. “Today, on the same day that Trump threatens Brazil with a 25% tariff and attacks Pix, he publishes his photo with Flávio Bolsonaro inside the White House. Coincidence? Flávio went to the USA to ask for political support and, soon after, came an offensive against sovereignty and the national economy”, published deputy Lindbergh Farias (PT-RJ).
In an interview in the morning, and that the new tariff would be a retaliation against Lula.
“[Eu pedi] ‘please don’t tax Brazilian companies’, but today we have someone sitting in the president’s chair who simply managed to gain the distrust of the American government. They don’t trust Lula because he leaves there asking first not to fight criminal factions”, he declared on Itatiaia radio.
The episode also gave strength to the recovery of the sovereignty defense strategy, which leveraged Lula in the first tariff. At the time, the application of the fees was seen as the responsibility of the former congressman (PL-SP), who had asked the American government for sanctions against Brazilian authorities in an attempt to free his father, (PL), from prison.
Members of Flávio’s pre-campaign claim that the first reactions to the new tariff were bad for the senator and showed that PT members are mobilized around the issue. In a speech this Tuesday, Lula.
“Flávio Bolsonaro went to kiss Trump’s hands while he taxes Brazilian companies and attacks Pix. […] This is what separates us from the extreme right: while they fight for foreign interests, we defend our homeland and national sovereignty”, published the former Minister of Finance (PT), who is running for Government of São Paulo.
On the other hand, Bolsonaro supporters have said that the new tariff threat is due to diplomatic errors and Lula’s provocations towards the United States. “While the PT fuels ideological friction with the Trump government, Flávio acts where Brazil needs it: in dialogue, articulation and the real defense of national interests”, wrote deputy General Pazuello (PL-RJ).
“That’s why we’re in the diplomatic shit we are in: in the middle of a crisis with the US, Lula decides to go on an offensive against the most powerful man in American diplomacy. It’s anti-diplomacy. Of course it’s going to continue going wrong”, published influencer Paulo Figueiredo, who lives in the US and accompanied Flávio to the meeting with Trump.
