Trump says Brazil election is very important

President Trump told reporters outside the White House on Thursday that he is following the upcoming Brazilian election very closely, calling Brazil a very important country and its people fantastic.

“The people of Brazil are fantastic people. It's a very important election.”

U.S. suspends consular services in Brazil

The U.S. State Department announced suspension of consular services in Brazil ahead of Sunday's election, citing unspecified security concerns and advising U.S. citizens not to visit diplomatic facilities.

Brazil votes on federal elections Sunday

Brazilians head to polls for federal elections spanning congressional and gubernatorial races alongside the first round of presidential voting. An October twenty-fifth runoff is expected between leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and far-right Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro was convicted of coup plot

Flávio Bolsonaro is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted last year for plotting a coup to overturn his two thousand twenty-two election loss. Trump called the trial a witch hunt.

Democrats accuse Trump of interference

Thirty House Democrats and Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio in late September expressing grave concern over what they called the administration's coordinated effort to undermine Brazil's democracy.

Lawmakers cite sustained campaign of interference

In their September twenty-fourth letter, the lawmakers said over Trump's second term they have seen U.S. officials engage in a sustained, multifaceted campaign of interference and destabilization in Brazil.

“Over the course of President Trump's second term, we have seen U.S. officials engage in a sustained, multifaceted campaign of interference and destabilization in Brazil.”

Trump imposed twenty-five percent tariffs on Brazil

Three Democratic Senators noted that the Trump administration deployed tariffs and targeted sanctions to shape Brazil's Supreme Court verdict in Bolsonaro's coup trial. In July, Trump imposed a new twenty-five percent tariff on many Brazilian imports.

Darren Beattie appointed as Brazil advisor

The Senators argued the campaign resumed with the appointment of Darren Beattie as senior advisor on Brazil issues in the State Department. Beattie served as White House speechwriter in Trump's first term but was fired for attending a white supremacist gathering.

White House rejects interference claims

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told TIME that claims of interference are nonsense, stating that conservative leaders are winning elections across the Western Hemisphere on their own merit because everyone sees the success of Trump's policies.

“Conservative leaders are winning elections across the Western Hemisphere on their own merit because everyone sees the success of President Trump's policies. These claims are nonsense.”

Lula warns Trump against interference

President Lula said in a September twenty-second interview that he told Trump it is very important the U.S. not interfere in Brazil's elections, saying Brazilian elections are the concern of Brazilian people and American elections are the concern of American people.

“I have already told President Trump it is very important that the U.S. do not interfere in Brazil's elections.”

Lula expresses concern about Rubio

Lula said he is very worried about Secretary of State Marco Rubio, claiming Rubio is very closely connected to Bolsonaro's people, though he stressed this was only suspicion.

Trump criticized Bolsonaro's trial as terrible

Trump has not formally endorsed either candidate but his defense of former President Bolsonaro is well documented. After Trump criticized the trial proceedings as a terrible thing in July two thousand twenty-five, the administration increased pressure by imposing punishing fifty percent tariffs.

Rubio called trial a political witch hunt

Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes' actions a political witch hunt against Jair Bolsonaro and announced visa restrictions on Moraes, unspecified judicial allies, and their immediate families.

Lula used tariffs as political argument

Feliciano de Sá Guimarães, associate professor at the Institute of International Relations at the University of São Paulo, says Lula realized he could play the economic threats in his favor for electoral purposes using the concept of rally round the flag.

Bolsonaro met Trump and Rubio in May

Flávio Bolsonaro met with Trump, Marco Rubio, and Vice President J.D. Vance at the White House in May. Trump described him as a smart young man who loves his country very much. Shortly after, the U.S. designated two Brazilian gangs as terrorist organizations.

Trump pursues broader Latin American influence

Since returning to office, Trump has sought to exert U.S. influence more directly across Latin America. In November two thousand twenty-five, the Trump administration released its National Security Strategy highlighting a return to U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere and implementation of the Donroe Doctrine.