"Leave Bolsonaro alone": Trump defends former Brazilian president and throws gasoline on the international political scene

Donald Trump's explosive statement reignites tensions and raises questions about Bolsonaro's political future in Brazil

Former US President Donald Trump has once again stirred up the international political scene by publishing a direct and provocative message on his social network, X (formerly Twitter), in defense of former President Jair Bolsonaro, currently under investigation for involvement in an attempted coup to overturn the results of the 2022 Brazilian elections.

“Brazil is doing a terrible thing on their treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro... He is not guilty of anything, except having fought for THE PEOPLE... The only Trial that should be happening is a Trial by the Voters of Brazil — It’s called an Election. LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE!” — Donald J. Trump

The publication generated intense global repercussions, especially because it occurs at a delicate time: Bolsonaro faces trials and investigations that could prevent him from returning to the polls until 2030, which, in practice, could mean the definitive end of his political career.


 

What changes with this speech by Trump?

The public outpouring of support from the most prominent leader of the American right is not just a gesture of solidarity — it is a strategic move. Trump’s speech could:

• Strengthen the discourse of political persecution used by Bolsonaro and his allies;
• Mobilize the Bolsonarist base, which sees Trump as an ideological and political mirror;
• Internationalize the debate, transforming Bolsonaro's case into an issue of "democratic freedom" according to the rhetoric of the global far right;
• Put pressure on Brazilian institutions, with indirect impacts on public opinion and the positioning of opposition politicians.

Electoral trigger or smokescreen?

For experts, Trump's speech is also an electoral move with multiple targets:

• In the US, it strengthens his anti-establishment narrative and reinforces his connection with populist leaders around the world;
• In Brazil, it provides Bolsonaro and his allies with new political fuel to sustain the discourse that the former president is the victim of a "legal war".

“Trump is trying to shape the perception that both he and Bolsonaro are symbols of resistance to what they call the ‘global corrupt system’,” says a political analyst interviewed by DFATOS.

Reaction in Brazil: silence or indignation?

While right-wing leaders celebrated the speech, democratic and left-wing sectors in Brazil harshly criticized the interference.

Behind the scenes, members of the STF and TSE are said to have received with concern Trump's attempt to discredit the Brazilian justice system, in a clear attempt to export the doctrine of “lawfare” (political use of laws).

After all, are we facing a new chapter of global populism?

Trump's speech clearly shows how modern politics transcends borders and relies on international networks of influence. When a former US president uses his influence to directly express his opinion on the Brazilian justice system, we are faced with a symbolic attack on institutional sovereignty.

More than a defense of an ally, the message is a signal: authoritarian populism is more alive than ever — and it communicates in real time.

DFATOS analyzes: The danger of internationalized disinformation

In a hyperconnected world, where charismatic leaders can move masses of people with just one post, the risk of disinformation takes on increasingly transnational dimensions.

Bolsonaro is inspired by Trump, Trump reciprocates with public statements, and democracy becomes a bargaining chip on the board of global populism.

The question remains: how far will this informal pact between populists go — and how long will the institutions resist?