U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday lashed out at Brazilian authorities, accusing them of conducting a “WITCH HUNT” against former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently on trial for allegedly orchestrating a failed coup to stay in power after losing the 2022 election.
“I have watched, as has the World, as they have done nothing but come after him, day after day, night after night, month after month, year after year!” Trump wrote on social media. “LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE!”
Bolsonaro, a close ally of Trump and a key figure on the global far right, is facing Brazil’s Supreme Court on charges of leading a “criminal organization” that sought to overturn the election results and block the transition to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Prosecutors allege the plan failed largely due to lack of military support.
If convicted, Bolsonaro could face up to 40 years in prison. He maintains that the case is politically motivated and designed to prevent his return to power. Though currently barred from running until 2030 for spreading lies about Brazil’s voting system, Bolsonaro insists the charges are part of a broader campaign to silence opposition.
Echoes of January 6?
The trial has drawn comparisons to Trump’s own legal troubles following the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, when his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn his election loss. Trump had pleaded not guilty, and the case was ultimately dropped after his 2024 reelection victory.
Bolsonaro’s son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, applauded Trump’s remarks on social media, hinting cryptically that more “news” from the U.S. was on the way.
Timing Sparks Geopolitical Tensions
Trump’s comments came as Brazil hosted a high-stakes BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, attended by leaders from China, Russia, Iran, and other nations critical of U.S. foreign policy. During the summit, the bloc denounced Trump’s tariffs and his military strikes on Iran, prompting a fierce response from the U.S. president.
Trump responded by threatening to slap an additional 10% tariff on any country “aligning with the anti-American policies of BRICS,” a move that could further escalate global trade tensions.
The Bolsonaro trial now sits at the intersection of domestic legal drama and international political posturing, with both Trump and Bolsonaro portraying themselves as victims of establishment crackdowns.
