The idea of the Brazilian delegation was not to let the North American ‘control the narrative’ with a public conversation
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) spoke for almost 3 hours with the leader of the United States, Donald Trump, this Thursday afternoon (7). However, the meeting, which should have been televised live, It happened behind closed doors after a last-minute request from the PT member.
After the meeting, the Brazilian went to the embassy in Washington, where he told journalists that the meeting was positive. ““, stated the PT member, who classified the meeting as an “important step” in the relationship between the two nations.
On social media, the North American also said that the conversation was good and praised Lula by calling the Brazilian “dynamic”. “The meeting was very good. Our representatives must meet to address some key points. New meetings will be scheduled in the coming months, as necessary,” said the Republican.
The strategy, praised by Lula’s allies in Brasília, has a reason: In his last public meetings, Trump embarrassed world leaders.
- Volodymyr Zelensky (Ukraine) left the meeting after being called ungrateful by the republican;
- Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa) was faced with accusations of “white genocide” in the country;
- Mark Carney (Canada) heard suggestions that the Republican would “buy” land from his neighbor to the north;
- Sanae Takaichi (Japan) was asked why the Japanese had no “warning” about the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II.
The idea of the Brazilian delegation was not to let the North American “control the narrative” with a public conversation. The assessment is that Trump “plays to the crowd” by televising the meetings and giving the floor to pro-White House journalists, as in the case of the meeting with Zelensky, in which a reporter accused the Ukrainian of disrespect for not wearing a suit and tie.
Behind closed doors, allies believe that Lula was able to actually talk to Trump, without worrying about the Republican’s performative side, and move forward on important issues such as:
- Business;
- Tariffs;
- PIX;
- Organized crime.
As a result, not only did the meeting have more practical effect, it also saved the image of the PT member, who is preparing to go on a campaign to seek re-election. Stagnant in the polls (while the main opponent, Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), is growing), Lula is betting, among other things, on a good international image to convince undecided voters.
Members of Lula’s base believe that, by escaping the trap, the Brazilian left the meeting at the White House greater than he entered it. On condition of anonymity, An opposition leader heard by the report also admitted that the PT member’s strategy was good.
