Latest news with #BolsonaroTrial
France 24
5 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Trump slams Brazil's Bolsonaro coup trial as 'witch hunt', Lula rejects 'interference'
US- Brazil relations slid into crisis Monday, after President Donald Trump criticised the high-profile coup trial of his right-wing ally, former president Jair Bolsonaro. Trump accused Brazilian authorities of carrying out a "WITCH HUNT" against the 70-year-old firebrand, warning they should "LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE". His comments drew a quick and sharp rebuke. Brazil's leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva set diplomatic niceties aside and hit back at Trump's "interference", adding that "no one is above the law". Bolsonaro is facing trial, accused of leading a "criminal organisation" that plotted a coup to keep him in power after his 2022 election. He faces up to 40 years in prison if found guilty. According to prosecutors, the alleged coup plot failed due to a lack of support from the military high command. The case carries echoes of Trump's prosecution over the January 6, 2021 US Capitol riot, when his supporters overran the US Congress to try to reverse his election loss. Trump pleaded not guilty, and the case was abandoned when he was reelected president – giving him immunity from prosecution. Bolsonaro has similarly protested his innocence, while trying to rally supporters with a series of protests that have further polarised Brazilian politics. The cases have drawn the Trump and Bolsonaro families together, with the Brazilian ex-leader's sons lobbying hard to have a Supreme Court judge hit with US sanctions and for Trump to weigh in. That effort now appears to have succeeded, with unclear repercussions for relations between the largest economies in North and South America. Bolsonaro's son Eduardo praised Trump's post and said it "would not be the only news coming from the United States in the near future". Trump addressed the case at length in a social media post and suggested Bolsonaro was the favourite in next year's election – despite being banned from running because he spread misinformation about the voting system. "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 said in the Truth Social post. "It happened to me, times 10," Trump said. "I have gotten to know Jair Bolsonaro, and he was a strong Leader, who truly loved his Country - Also, a very tough negotiator on TRADE," Trump said. Like Trump, Bolsonaro claims to be the victim of political persecution. Trump's comments came as Lula hosted representatives from China, Russia, Iran, and other nations for a BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro. 04:34 Leaders attending the summit criticised Trump's tariffs and his bombing of Iran, drawing the US president's ire and a threat of 10 percent additional tariffs on each BRICS-aligned country.
Al Arabiya
5 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Trump Accuses Brazilian Authorities of 'Witch Hunt' Against Former Leader Bolsonaro
US President Donald Trump on Monday criticized Brazilian authorities over what he called a 'witch hunt' against former President Jair Bolsonaro and said he will be closely monitoring his trial. The South American far-right leader, who governed between 2019 and 2022, is standing trial before the country's Supreme Court for his role in an alleged coup attempt in January 2023. He is already ineligible for next year's vote. The former president has repeatedly denied the allegations and said he is the target of political persecution. In his first such comment since Bolsonaro's trial began, Trump said in a social media post that Brazil is doing a 'terrible thing' in their treatment of his ally. He added that Bolsonaro is 'not guilty of anything,' except for having 'fought for the people,' and compared the Brazilian's situation to his own. 'This happened to me times 10,' the US president said. 'I will be closely monitoring the witch hunt of Jair Bolsonaro, his family, and thousands of his supporters. Leave Bolsonaro alone!' Bolsonaro responded by saying on social media that Trump's 'fight for peace, justice and liberty echoes worldwide,' and he thanked the US leader for 'giving us a role model for faith and resilience.' Bolsonaro has been declared ineligible to run for office until 2030 by Brazil's electoral court for abuse of power during the 2022 election, when he narrowly lost to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula said in a statement that did not mention Trump that the defense of democracy in Brazil is a topic for Brazilians. 'We are a sovereign nation.' Brazil's president added: 'We have solid and independent institutions. No one is above the law. Even more so those who attack freedom and the rule of law.' Later, speaking on the sidelines of a summit of BRICS emerging economies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's president said he had more important things to comment on than Trump's post on Bolsonaro. 'Go take care of your own life, not ours,' Lula said.
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Trump accuses Brazilian authorities of 'witch hunt' against former leader Bolsonaro
SAO PAULO (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday criticized Brazilian authorities over what he called 'a witch hunt' against former President Jair Bolsonaro and said he will be 'closely monitoring' his trial. The South American far-right leader, who governed between 2019 and 2022, is standing trial before the country's Supreme Court for his role in an alleged coup attempt in January 2023. He is already ineligible for next year's vote. The former president has repeatedly denied the allegations and said he is the target of political persecution. In his first such comment since Bolsonaro's trial began, Trump said in a social media post that Brazil 'is doing a terrible thing in their treatment' of his ally. He added that Bolsonaro 'is not guilty of anything, except for having fought for the people,' and compared the Brazilian's situation to his own. 'This happened to me, times 10,' the U.S. president said. 'I will be closely monitoring the witch hunt of Jair Bolsonaro, his family, and thousands of his supporters. Leave Bolsonaro alone!' Bolsonaro responded by saying on social media that Trump's 'fight for peace, justice and liberty echoes worldwide,' and he thanked the U.S. leader for 'giving us a role model for faith and resilience.' Bolsonaro has been declared ineligible to run for office until 2030 by Brazil's electoral court for abuse of power during the 2022 election, when he narrowly lost to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula said in a statement that did not mention Trump that 'the defense of democracy in Brazil is a topic for Brazilians. We are a sovereign nation.' Brazil's president added: 'We have solid and independent institutions. No one is above the law. Even more so those who attack freedom and the rule of law.' Later, speaking on the sidelines of a summit of BRICS emerging economies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's president said he had 'more important things to comment' on than Trump's post on Bolsonaro. 'Go take care of your own life, not ours,' Lula said. Brazil's Supreme Court did not comment on Trump's message. ____ Associated Press journalist Eléonore Hughes in Rio de Janeiro contributed to this report.
