President Donald Trump wrote a letter to former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, promising to watch the case against him “closely.”
“I have seen the terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you,” the letter read. “This trial should end immediately! I am not surprised to see you are leading in the polls; you were a highly respected and strong leader who served your country well.”
“I share your commitment to listening to the voice of the people and I am very concerned about the attacks on free speech — both in Brazil and in the United States — coming out of the current government,” Trump’s letter continued. “I have strongly voiced my disapproval both publicly and through our Tariff policy. It is my sincere hope that the Government of Brazil changes course, stops attacking political opponents, and ends their ridiculous censorship regime. I will be watching closely.”
Bolsonaro thanked Trump for the letter, stating, “I’m being judged by a coup d’état carried out on a Sunday with no troops, no weapons…” He said authorities “want to detach myself from the politics, detach the greatest right leadership from South America, and I understand that elections without opposition, that’s a coup.”
Bolsonaro narrowly lost re-election to far-left former convict Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2022 and faces numerous criminal charges — including accusations of leading a “coup” and possessing state-owned jewelry.
“Brazil is doing a terrible thing on their treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro,” Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this month. “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! He is not guilty of anything, except having fought for THE PEOPLE.”
Brazilian police have since ordered Bolsonaro to wear an ankle monitor.
