Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is facing a sentence of more than twenty seven years in prison, and U.S. President Donald J. Trump believes it's "a very bad thing."
On September 11th, Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was convicted on five counts: attempting to organize a coup d'etat, being part of an armed criminal organization, attempting to violently abolish the democratic rule of law, being involved in violence, and posing a serious threat to state assets. He was found guilty after four out of the five judges on the Brazil Supreme Court examined the case.
When asked about the conviction, U.S. President Donald J. Trump said that the trial against Bolsonaro was “very much like they tried to do with me.” The president further expressed that he believed Bolsonaro is a good man and believes the conviction is “a very bad thing for Brazil”.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on the ruling through X, following the verdict that “The United States will respond accordingly to this witch hunt".
During the ongoing trial, President Trump expressed his displeasure with the Brazilian government over the trial and made references to 50% tariffs placed on Brazil in July.
Some officials believe that following the verdict higher tariffs or even sanctions on government officials will be enacted by the U.S. government.
On September 12, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast issued a statement stating that “By sentencing Brazil's leading opposition figure, he has effectively silenced the voice of every Brazilian, setting a dangerous precedent in the largest democracy south of the U.S. border.”
Currently, relations with the country remain strained with the tariffs in place against Brazil and the country filing a request for dispute mediation to the World Trade Organization on August 11. The relationship between the two countries remains in economic limbo following the verdict with some speculating action to be taken by the Trump administration in the coming days.
