Trump Demands End to Bolsonaro Coup Trial, Threatens Tariffs Amid Rising U.S.-Brazil Tensions

President Donald Trump arrives before a dinner with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at Mar-a-Lago March 7, 2020, in Palm Beach, Fla

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for an immediate halt to the prosecution of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, describing the ongoing trial as a politically motivated attack and a threat to democratic freedoms. Bolsonaro faces multiple charges related to an alleged attempt to orchestrate a coup following his 2022 election defeat.

In a strongly worded letter posted Thursday night on Trump's Truth Social platform, Trump declared Bolsonaro the victim of a "system turned against you" and demanded the case be dropped. “This should end immediately!” Trump wrote, expressing solidarity with Bolsonaro’s claims of persecution and voicing concern about attacks on free speech in both Brazil and the United States. “I share your commitment to listening to the voice of the people,” Trump added.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attends a ministerial meeting on plans to support Rio Grande do Sul state, which was affected by floods, at the presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, May 13, 2024

Bolsonaro, who narrowly lost the 2022 election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is accused by Brazilian prosecutors of leading a plot to remain in office. The 884-page report filed by Federal Police in November outlines a comprehensive plan involving 33 individuals, including Bolsonaro, to undermine the electoral system, issue a fraudulent decree to lend legal cover to a coup, pressure military leaders for support, and incite a violent riot in the capital.

The Supreme Federal Court of Brazil formally accepted the charges in March, with all five justices voting to put Bolsonaro on trial. The charges include attempting to stage a coup, inciting violence, conspiring to poison his successor, and plotting to assassinate a sitting Supreme Court justice. A conviction on the coup charge alone could bring a sentence of up to 12 years, with additional charges potentially resulting in decades behind bars.

Bolsonaro has vehemently denied the allegations, stating, “I have no concerns about the accusations, zero.”

Tensions between the United States and Brazil have intensified as the Biden administration, under pressure from Trump-aligned factions, considers imposing sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case against Bolsonaro. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reportedly reviewed sanctions under the Magnitsky Act, targeting foreign officials involved in corruption and human rights abuses.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro arrives for a luncheon with senators from his support base at the National Congress building in Brasilia, Brazil, Feb. 18, 2025

Earlier this week, Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo met with U.S. officials at the White House. In a video posted after the meetings, Eduardo Bolsonaro hinted that “decisions are being made” regarding potential sanctions on Justice Moraes and others involved in the case.

Trump has escalated the pressure, recently threatening to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods starting August 1, specifically citing the criminal prosecution of Bolsonaro. “I have strongly voiced my disapproval both publicly and through our Tariff policy,” Trump stated in the letter, criticizing Brazil’s “ridiculous censorship regime” and urging the government to “stop attacking political opponents.”

In response, President Lula vowed retaliation, saying Brazil would mirror any tariff imposed. “If he charges 50% from us, we will charge 50% from them,” Lula stated. “Respect is good. I like to offer mine, and I like to receive it.”

The Bolsonaro case continues to deepen political divisions in Brazil and provoke international fallout, with serious implications for U.S.-Brazil relations, trade policies, and the broader battle over democratic norms in the region.