President Donald Trump issued a bold statement Monday defending former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, blasting Brazil’s judiciary for what he called a political “witch hunt” and warning that the people of Brazil “will not stand” for it.
Trump’s remarks come as Bolsonaro, who narrowly lost re-election to far-left former convict Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2022, faces numerous criminal charges — including accusations of leading a “coup” and possessing state-owned jewelry — with penalties that could imprison him for nearly four decades. Brazilian courts have already banned Bolsonaro from running for office, despite polls showing him leading the 2026 presidential race.
“Brazil is doing a terrible thing on their treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “He is not guilty of anything, except having fought for THE PEOPLE.” Trump likened Bolsonaro’s legal struggles to his own, describing it as a political assault. “This is nothing more, or less, than an attack on a Political Opponent — Something I know much about!”
Bolsonaro responded with gratitude, calling Trump’s message a source of “great joy” and labeling the ongoing prosecutions against him as “judicial aberration” and “clear political persecution.” He added that Trump himself had “triumphed” despite being “implacably persecuted.”
During his first term, Bolsonaro aligned closely with President Trump, jointly championing national sovereignty, conservative values, and border security. Their friendship now extends into a shared battle against politically driven prosecutions by globalist-aligned judicial systems.
Brazilian President Lula, who served time in prison for corruption and was only freed by a Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) ruling that sidestepped Brazil’s electoral law, rejected Trump’s statement. “We do not accept interference or lecturing from anyone,” Lula said Monday, without directly naming Trump.
Gleisi Hoffmann, a top Lula cabinet member, directly condemned Trump, accusing him of “interference” and claiming Brazil was no longer “subservient” to the United States. She also alleged Bolsonaro’s supporters tried to “destroy” Brazil’s democratic order—despite Lula himself being convicted through multiple appeals for accepting bribes and misusing public funds before being cleared to run again by the same court now prosecuting Bolsonaro.
Trump ended his message with a rallying cry: “The only Trial that should be happening is a Trial by the Voters of Brazil — It’s called an Election. LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE!”
