Lula warns Trump against meddling in Brazil election

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Wednesday warned US President Donald Trump not to meddle in Brazil's upcoming October presidential election. The statement came after Trump criticized Brazil's judiciary over its actions against Lula's political rivals.

The remarks highlight rising tensions between Brazil and the United States. The Trump administration has proposed new tariffs on Brazilian goods and recently designated two drug-trafficking groups as foreign terrorist organizations, moves Lula opposes.

Lula has repeatedly defended Brazil's sovereignty since Trump imposed tariffs last year, citing a "witch-hunt trial" against former President Jair Bolsonaro. Lula also complained about US sanctions on Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, whom the Trump administration accused of playing a politically motivated role in prosecuting Bolsonaro.

On Wednesday, Trump said Brazil had become "politically dangerous" and that the government wanted to arrest "Bolsonaro junior," who was "doing well in the polls." Brazil's Supreme Court on Tuesday convicted one of Bolsonaro's sons, former lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro, of coercion related to his father's coup trial, sentencing him to four years and two months in prison. However, the reference to poll performance suggested Trump may have been referring to Bolsonaro's eldest son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who is running against Lula in the election. Flávio Bolsonaro has not been arrested.

A journalist read Trump's remarks to Lula during a press conference following the G7 summit in France. The Brazilian leader said they showed Trump "doesn't know Brazil well." "If he knows Brazil through his relations with the Bolsonaro family, he doesn't know Brazil," Lula said. "He can go on liking Bolsonaro — the father, the son, the grandson — that’s not my problem, it’s his. (...) But don’t interfere in Brazil’s elections, because Brazil’s elections are Brazil’s business."

Lula also criticized the US decision to classify Brazil's largest drug-trafficking groups as terrorist organizations, arguing they seek profit, not political change. The US also proposed a 25% tariff on Brazilian imports, which Lula called disrespectful, adding that Trump still behaves like an emperor.