Ahmet Salih Alacaci
18 July 2025•Update: 18 July 2025
WASHINGTON
US President Donald Trump on Thursday once again demanded Brazil end the criminal trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro, calling the proceedings politically motivated and saying he would be watching the country "closely."
In a letter addressed to Bolsonaro and shared on social media, Trump said the former Brazilian leader was facing “terrible treatment...at the hands of an unjust system” and said authorities should drop the case “immediately.”
“I am not surprised to see you leading in the polls; you were a highly respected and strong leader who served your country well,” he wrote.
Bolsonaro is currently on trial over allegations that he sought to stage a coup after losing Brazil’s 2022 election, which brought President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva back to power. He denies any wrongdoing.
The US president went on to voice concern about what he described as "attacks on free speech" in both Brazil and the United States.
“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 the United States — coming out of the current government,” he said.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Brazil’s handling of Bolsonaro’s case and last week announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports beginning Aug. 1. He reiterated Thursday that his administration had expressed disapproval of Lula’s government “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,” he said.
Earlier this week, the US Trade Representative opened an investigation into Brazil’s trade practices, following Trump’s directive to examine whether Brazilian policies are placing "unfair" restrictions on US exports.
Bolsonaro served as Brazil's president from 2019 to 2023. He faces a trial for allegedly plotting a coup against Lula following his election victory in 2022. He has already been barred from running for public office until 2030 for false claims that Brazil's electronic voting system was vulnerable to fraud.
If convicted on the coup allegations, the former president could face up to 40 years in prison. Bolsonaro denies all the allegations.
Trump and Bolsonaro have maintained a close relationship, famously meeting at the White House in 2019, and Bolsonaro has frequently been dubbed the “Trump” of Latin America.
Bolsonaro has publicly stated his desire to run in the 2026 presidential elections, where the 79-year-old Lula is also expected to seek reelection as a leftist candidate.
