Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks to the press on the Federal Senate in Brasilia on July 17, 2025.
MATEUS BONOMI/AFP
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MATEUS BONOMI/AFP
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The continuing feud between the U.S. and Brazil escalated on Friday after Brazil’s Supreme Courtroom ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro—an ally of Donald Trump—to put on an digital ankle monitor, citing him as a flight danger.
The courtroom says Bolsonaro sought interference from the U.S. president to undermine the Brazilian judiciary—allegations that come amid rising tensions between the 2 nations.
Police raided Bolsonaro’s house and get together headquarters early Friday morning, becoming the far-right chief with the monitoring machine. The courtroom additionally imposed a nighttime and weekend curfew and barred him from contacting international diplomats, visiting embassies, or utilizing social media.
Bolsonaro, who’s dealing with prices of plotting a coup to stay in energy after dropping Brazil’s 2022 election, known as the measures a “supreme humiliation.” Talking exterior a federal police station, he denied planning to flee and claimed that the $14,000 present in his house was legally obtained.
On Thursday evening President Trump posted a letter on his Reality Social platform demanding the case be dropped. He has repeatedly threatened 50% tariffs on Brazilian items if the prosecution continues. “I will be watching closely,” Trump wrote.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva fired again, calling Trump’s threats “blackmail” and vowing to not bow to international strain.
“No gringo is going to give orders to this president,” Lula informed a cheering crowd utilizing the widespread Brazilian slang for foreigners.
Lula says Brazil is weighing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. items, together with tech corporations. The confrontation has helped revive his flagging recognition, as many Brazilians view Trump’s remarks as overreach.
“U.S. observers are underestimating the power of Brazilian nationalism,” stated political scientist Oliver Stuenkel of FGV College. “There’s a strong response to what’s seen as aggressive interference by Trump.”
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the Supreme Courtroom choose who’s overseeing Bolsonaro’s case, is more and more a goal of conservative U.S. figures for his crackdown on misinformation and social media platforms. Trump’s media firm, Trump Media and Expertise Group, has even filed swimsuit in opposition to him in a Florida courtroom, accusing him of violating free speech.
In the meantime, Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo—at present within the U.S.—has been lobbying Trump to strain Brazil’s establishments. In a assertion posted on social media Eduardo known as for Brazil to “act like a dignified democracy.”
However he is now barred from talking to his father. The courtroom’s order prohibits Bolsonaro from contacting others dealing with prices, together with his son, who additionally claims to be a sufferer of political persecution.
