Archive July 7, 2025

‘Terrible thing’: Trump defends Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro against coup trial

United States President Donald Trump has taken to social media to defend his fellow right-wing leader Jair Bolsonaro, a former Brazilian president who faces criminal charges for allegedly plotting a coup d’etat.

On Monday, Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that Bolsonaro’s indictment was an example of political persecution.

“Brazil is doing a terrible thing on their treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro,” Trump said.

“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.”

Trump went on to compare his own legal troubles to Bolsonaro’s. Both leaders have been accused of trying to undermine their country’s elections, following losses.

In Trump’s case, the accusations concern his 2020 race against Democrat Joe Biden. Though Trump lost, prosecutors say he and his allies conspired to defraud voters by pressuring officials to say that he won. That lie culminated in an attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, as Trump’s supporters sought to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election results.

Trump later faced a federal indictment in Washington, DC, and a state-level indictment in Georgia over his actions. The federal charges, however, were dropped once he took office for a second term in January.

Bolsonaro, meanwhile, currently is facing criminal trial for allegedly masterminding a scheme to retain power after his 2022 election loss to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

In the lead-up to the election, Bolsonaro spread falsehoods about the accuracy of Brazil’s voting machines, and afterwards, he refused to publicly concede defeat. Thousands of his supporters likewise stormed the government buildings in Brazil’s capital Brasilia to protest the outcome.

Prosecutors say police unearthed evidence of a scheme wherein Bolsonaro and his allies plotted to hold onto power by means of a coup, one that would have seen Lula and other officials assassinated.

Both Trump and Bolsonaro have denied wrongdoing. In Monday’s posts, Trump said both of their cases reflected a politically motivated “WITCH HUNT” designed to dim their popularity among voters.

“This is nothing more, or less, than an attack on a Political Opponent — Something I know much about! It happened to me, times 10,” Trump wrote. “The Great People of Brazil will not stand for what they are doing to their former President.”

He appeared to end his post with a call for Bolsonaro’s re-election: “The only Trial that should be happening is a Trial by the Voters of Brazil — It’s called an Election. LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE!”

Bolsonaro, however, has been barred from running for office for eight years, a period which expires in 2030. In 2023, in a separate case, Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court issued the punishment after it found Bolsonaro had abused his power by using government offices to spread doubt about the country’s voting machines.

Trump and Bolsonaro have long faced comparisons to one another. They both took office for a first term in 2017, and both lost their initial re-election attempt. Bolsonaro, a former army captain, has been referred to as the “Trump of the tropics”.

Critics have long speculated that Trump may seek to intervene in Brazil’s prosecution of the far-right leader, through political pressure.

Earlier this year, for example, the Trump Media and Technology Group joined a lawsuit in Florida against Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, arguing that a recent decision from the judge amounted to the censorship of right-wing voices.

De Moraes has overseen the criminal case against Bolsonaro and is considered a target of ire for Brazil’s right.

In a social media response on Monday, President Lula indicated that Trump’s social media missive could be viewed as an attempt to interfere with the Brazilian justice system.

Though he mentioned neither Trump nor Bolsonaro by name, Lula, a left-wing leader, rejected the advice of those who sought to influence the ongoing trial from abroad.

“The defense of democracy in Brazil is a matter for Brazilians to deal with. We are a sovereign country. We do not accept interference or tutelage from anyone,” Lula wrote. “We have solid and independent institutions. No one is above the law. Especially those who threaten freedom and the rule of law.”

Bolsonaro, on the other hand, took to social media to thank Trump explicitly for his words of support.

“I thank the illustrious President and friend. You went through something similar. You were relentlessly persecuted, but you won for the good of the United States and dozens of other truly democratic countries,” Bolsonaro wrote, reflecting on how “happy” he was to see Trump’s note.

Bolsonaro used the occasion to once again proclaim his innocence and blast his political opponents as puppeteering the trial.

“This process to which I am responding is a legal aberration (lawfare), clear political persecution,” he said.

Trio of clubs target £40m Grealish – Tuesday’s gossip

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Newcastle are interested in signing Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and are interested in signing Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, according to three clubs.

After Manchester City asked for the 29-year-old’s fee at a price of £40 million, Tottenham, Newcastle, and Napoli are all keeping tabs on England midfielder Jack Grealish. (Sun)

With the addition of the England and Crystal Palace centre-back, Newcastle United is still hopeful of winning the market for Marc Guehi, 24. The club is also looking to strengthen their squad. (GiveMeSport)

Ousmane Diomande, 21, is a potential £45 million signing for Crystal Palace, who are also in talks with Sporting. (Guardian)

Crystal Palace is also interested in 28-year-old Italian defender Davide Calabria. He impressed at Bologna last season on loan, but he left AC Milan before his contract expired. (Sky Sports)

Newcastle have also started new discussions with England manager Eddie Howe, a long-time fan of the England international who left Everton last month and has interest from Manchester United, with 28-year-old Dominic Calvert-Lewin. (Talksport)

Nayef Aguerd, a 29-year-old Moroccan defender, is a top summer target for French side Marseille. (L’Equipe, in French)

Ederson, a midfielder for Atalanta and Brazil, has been tracked by Serie A duo Inter Milan and Juventus, who are also interested in the 26-year-old’s estimated £44 million. (Goal – Portuguese)

Rasmus Hojlund, a 22-year-old Danish striker, has indicated interest in moving away from Manchester United unless the club decides to sell him, with Inter Milan one of the interested clubs. (Romano-Fabrizio)

Andre Onana, a 29-year-old Cameroon goalkeeper, is also looking to stay at AS Monaco, despite Manchester United‘s $ 30 million transfer fee at the end of last month. (Mail)

Wilfred Ndidi, 28, who has a reportedly cost him £9 million, has a contract with Leicester City that also includes a desire to sell to Fulham, Everton, and Crystal Palace. (Tuttosport – in Italian)

However, AS Roma, Juventus, and AC Milan are interested in the 24-year-old despite Sunderland, Leeds United, and Wolves having interest in Lens and Morocco Under-23 midfielder Neil El Aynaoui. (Footmercato – in French)

related subjects

  • Football

Trio of clubs target £40m Grealish – Tuesday’s gossip

Image gallery to skip

Newcastle are interested in signing Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and are interested in signing Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, according to three clubs.

After Manchester City asked for the 29-year-old’s fee at a price of £40 million, Tottenham, Newcastle, and Napoli are all keeping tabs on England midfielder Jack Grealish. (Sun)

With the addition of the England and Crystal Palace centre-back, Newcastle United is still hopeful of winning the market for Marc Guehi, 24. The club is also looking to strengthen their squad. (GiveMeSport)

Ousmane Diomande, 21, is a potential £45 million signing for Crystal Palace, who are also in talks with Sporting. (Guardian)

Crystal Palace is also interested in 28-year-old Italian defender Davide Calabria. He impressed at Bologna last season on loan, but he left AC Milan before his contract expired. (Sky Sports)

Newcastle have also started new discussions with England manager Eddie Howe, a long-time fan of the England international who left Everton last month and has interest from Manchester United, with 28-year-old Dominic Calvert-Lewin. (Talksport)

Nayef Aguerd, a 29-year-old Moroccan defender, is a top summer target for French side Marseille. (L’Equipe, in French)

Ederson, a midfielder for Atalanta and Brazil, has been tracked by Serie A duo Inter Milan and Juventus, who are also interested in the 26-year-old’s estimated £44 million. (Goal – Portuguese)

Rasmus Hojlund, a 22-year-old Danish striker, has indicated interest in moving away from Manchester United unless the club decides to sell him, with Inter Milan one of the interested clubs. (Romano-Fabrizio)

Andre Onana, a 29-year-old Cameroon goalkeeper, is also looking to stay at AS Monaco, despite Manchester United‘s $ 30 million transfer fee at the end of last month. (Mail)

Wilfred Ndidi, 28, who has a reportedly cost him £9 million, has a contract with Leicester City that also includes a desire to sell to Fulham, Everton, and Crystal Palace. (Tuttosport – in Italian)

However, AS Roma, Juventus, and AC Milan are interested in the 24-year-old despite Sunderland, Leeds United, and Wolves having interest in Lens and Morocco Under-23 midfielder Neil El Aynaoui. (Footmercato – in French)

related subjects

  • Football

Trio of clubs target £40m Grealish – Tuesday’s gossip

Image gallery to skip

Newcastle are interested in signing Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and are interested in signing Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, according to three clubs.

After Manchester City asked for the 29-year-old’s fee at a price of £40 million, Tottenham, Newcastle, and Napoli are all keeping tabs on England midfielder Jack Grealish. (Sun)

With the addition of the England and Crystal Palace centre-back, Newcastle United is still hopeful of winning the market for Marc Guehi, 24. The club is also looking to strengthen their squad. (GiveMeSport)

Ousmane Diomande, 21, is a potential £45 million signing for Crystal Palace, who are also in talks with Sporting. (Guardian)

Crystal Palace is also interested in 28-year-old Italian defender Davide Calabria. He impressed at Bologna last season on loan, but he left AC Milan before his contract expired. (Sky Sports)

Newcastle have also started new discussions with England manager Eddie Howe, a long-time fan of the England international who left Everton last month and has interest from Manchester United, with 28-year-old Dominic Calvert-Lewin. (Talksport)

Nayef Aguerd, a 29-year-old Moroccan defender, is a top summer target for French side Marseille. (L’Equipe, in French)

Ederson, a midfielder for Atalanta and Brazil, has been tracked by Serie A duo Inter Milan and Juventus, who are also interested in the 26-year-old’s estimated £44 million. (Goal – Portuguese)

Rasmus Hojlund, a 22-year-old Danish striker, has indicated interest in moving away from Manchester United unless the club decides to sell him, with Inter Milan one of the interested clubs. (Romano-Fabrizio)

Andre Onana, a 29-year-old Cameroon goalkeeper, is also looking to stay at AS Monaco, despite Manchester United‘s $ 30 million transfer fee at the end of last month. (Mail)

Wilfred Ndidi, 28, who has a reportedly cost him £9 million, has a contract with Leicester City that also includes a desire to sell to Fulham, Everton, and Crystal Palace. (Tuttosport – in Italian)

However, AS Roma, Juventus, and AC Milan are interested in the 24-year-old despite Sunderland, Leeds United, and Wolves having interest in Lens and Morocco Under-23 midfielder Neil El Aynaoui. (Footmercato – in French)

related subjects

  • Football