The President of the USA, , stated in an interview with journalists that he spoke with (PT) during the , called the political situation in Brazil dangerous and was confused about the situation of the Bolsonaro clan.
“And Brazil has become a bit of a complicated country, right? Politically. It’s become a bit dangerous from a political point of view. You’re talking about Brazil, aren’t you? It’s been something unpleasant,” he said.
Asked if he spoke with Lula about the new tariffs proposed by the US, which could reach 37.5%, and the designation of PCC and CV as terrorists, Trump said: “I spent a lot of time with him. Brazil has become a difficult country politically.”
The American also confused the members of the Bolsonaro family.
“I heard that they arrested someone today who is running for public office. I found out about this after we left. I had just said goodbye to him and I heard that they arrested Bolsonaro Jr. He was doing well in the polls and they arrested him because he made a statement in Texas. They arrested him, or they want to arrest him, to have something against him,” Trump said.
On Tuesday (16), the STF (Supreme Federal Court) convicted former federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, and not the senator and pre-candidate for the Presidency (), for the crime of coercion during the course of the process.
The decision was taken by the First Panel of the court, which sentenced the former deputy to a sentence of four years and two months in prison under an initially semi-open regime. There is still an appeal, and there have been no arrests yet. Eduardo has lived in the USA since March last year.
Trump said authorities in Brazil “play hardball” and then returned to talking about the US. “But no one plays harder than the . Look, our elections are totally rigged. We have rigged elections.”
In Geneva, Switzerland, President Lula commented on Trump, saying that the Republican may have his preferences, but that if he knows Brazil due to the relationship he has with the Bolsonaro family, “he doesn’t know Brazil”.
“I just hope that he doesn’t violate the code of ethics among nations that want to be respected in their sovereignty. I just hope that. He can continue to like Bolsonaro, his father, his son, his grandson. I have no problem. After all, taste can’t be discussed.”
For Lula, however, the American president simply cannot interfere in the Brazilian elections. “Now, don’t get involved in Brazil’s elections because Brazil’s elections are Brazil’s problem. Just like American elections are their problem and not mine.”
He also denied that he had requested a bilateral meeting with the president, since the countries are under a negotiation process, amid an attempt to set a new tariff against Brazil. “I think what he did was a shameless thing for Brazil, he knows that.”
Lula seemed irritated by recent American attacks against Brazil. “I gave him an organized crime document to show that the Federal Police is prepared, that if he wants to fight what is organized, Brazil is very willing. Even telling him that they are the ones who export Brazilian doors to Brazil.”
The PT member once again stated that, during the meeting at the White House, he personally handed Trump a document with proposals for cooperation between the two countries in the fight against organized crime. According to the Brazilian president, the text includes concerns related to the flow of weapons and financial resources linked to criminal organizations operating in Brazil.
“All the weapons that the Federal Police seize in Brazil are weapons that are not manufactured by the Federal Police,” he said. Lula also mentioned the need for international cooperation to track the financial resources of Brazilian criminals held abroad, citing the US state of Delaware.
The president emphasized that he preferred to formalize the requests in writing. “I don’t just want to talk. President Trump talks a lot and listens little. That’s why I made a point of giving it to him in writing,” he said.
According to Lula, the objective is to expand bilateral collaboration in combating organized crime. He defended joint action by security forces to identify, investigate and hold members of these criminal organizations accountable. “That’s what we want to combat organized crime,” he said.
