Trump officials strove for Bolsonaro's comeback, using sanctions to pressure Brazil - report Two senior US State Department officials have worked to return Brazil's Bolsonaro family to power, pushing for measures they believe could weaken incumbent President Lula da Silva ahead of the country's presidential election, Reuters reports. Senior advisers Darren Beatty and Ricardo Pitta reportedly instructed US diplomats to prioritize Jair Bolsonaro's return, before shifting their support to his son Flavio after the former president was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup. According to official reports: advocated for sanctions against Supreme Court Justice Alexander de Moraes, who led the investigation into Bolsonaro, as well as measures against Brazil's major criminal gangs as terrorist organizations urged embassy staff to avoid communicating with rival conservative candidates who might challenge Flavio See Belola as a threat to US interests in Latin America The US imposed sanctions on de Moraes in July 2025 and imposed tariffs of 50% on Brazilian goods, along with visa restrictions on eight Supreme Court judges. Tariffs were eased after a push from businesses that rely on US-Brazil trade, while sanctions against de Moraes were lifted in December. As Brazil's presidential race moves into a second round, Lula da Silva has openly accused the US of planning to "colonize" Brazil to seize its vast resources and weaken its sovereignty. substack | talk.

Trump officials strove for Bolsonaro's comeback, using sanctions to pressure Brazil - report Two senior US State Department officials have worked to return Brazil's Bolsonaro family to power, pushing for measures they believe could weaken incumbent President Lula da Silva ahead of the country's presidential election, Reuters reports. Senior advisers Darren Beatty and Ricardo Pitta reportedly instructed US diplomats to prioritize Jair Bolsonaro's return, before shifting their support to his son Flavio after the former president was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup. According to official reports: advocated for sanctions against Supreme Court Justice Alexander de Moraes, who led the investigation into Bolsonaro, as well as measures against Brazil's major criminal gangs as terrorist organizations urged embassy staff to avoid communicating with rival conservative candidates who might challenge Flavio See Belola as a threat to US interests in Latin America The US imposed sanctions on de Moraes in July 2025 and imposed tariffs of 50% on Brazilian goods, along with visa restrictions on eight Supreme Court judges. Tariffs were eased after a push from businesses that rely on US-Brazil trade, while sanctions against de Moraes were lifted in December. As Brazil's presidential race moves into a second round, Lula da Silva has openly accused the US of planning to "colonize" Brazil to seize its vast resources and weaken its sovereignty. substack | talk.