Trump Accuses Brazil of Witch Hunt Against Bolsonaro

“He Has Only Fought for the People!”

Donald Trump has thrown himself into the fray to support Brazil’s former president, Jair Bolsonaro, accusing Brazilian authorities of conducting a “witch hunt” against him.

The criticism comes as Bolsonaro faces charges of attempting a coup against the sitting president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

“I have seen, like the rest of the world, how they have pursued him day after day, night after night, month after month, year after year,” Trump writes on the social media platform Truth Social.

Trump praises Bolsonaro as a “strong leader” who “really loved his country” and calls the charges against him politically motivated.

Lula Strikes Back: “No One Is Above the Law”

Brazil’s president, Lula da Silva, sharply reacts to Trump’s criticism:

“We will not accept interference or instructions from anyone. The defense of democracy in Brazil is a matter for Brazilians,” states Lula, emphasizing: “No one is above the law, especially not those who attack freedom and the rule of law.”

Brazil’s Minister for Institutional Affairs, Gleisi Hoffmann, has also strongly reacted to Trump’s statement according to the BBC:

“The time when Brazil was subject to the USA ended with Bolsonaro. The American president should take care of his own problems, which are not few, and respect Brazil’s sovereignty and our justice system.”

Trump’s Threats Against BRICS

Trump’s statements come as Brazil has just hosted a summit with the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) in Rio de Janeiro. Trump has previously threatened new tariffs against countries he labels as “anti-American” – especially a critique directed at China and Russia.

Bolsonaro Denies Guilt

Bolsonaro is accused of involvement in an attempt to overthrow democracy after thousands of his supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília in January 2023. He categorically denies any involvement:

“I am subjected to clear political persecution,” he says in a social media post.

Joint Front Against “Political Witch Hunt”

Trump and Bolsonaro share a common history of losing presidential elections and refusing to concede defeat. The two former leaders met several times during their presidencies and have since publicly supported each other.

Trump has also compared the situation to the legal cases he has faced in the USA:

“This is an attack on a political opponent – something I know all too well.”

Bolsonaro risks several decades in prison if found guilty and is temporarily barred from running for office until 2030. However, he has announced that he will fight the ban and run again in 2026.

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