# Trump declines to back Lula or Flávio Bolsonaro

> Trump avoids endorsing Brazil's presidential candidates ahead of election.
- Title: Trump declines to back Lula or Flávio Bolsonaro · MercoPress
- Summary: Trump avoids endorsing Brazil's presidential candidates ahead of election. US President Donald Trump has not publicly supported either Lula or Flávio…
- Keywords: donald trump, flavio bolsonaro, lula da silva, brazil, presidential election, united states, news, world, politics, Trump, declines, back
- Source: MercoPress — https://en.mercopress.com/2026/10/04/trump-declines-to-back-lula-or-flavio-bolsonaro-as-brazil-votes
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: donald trump, flavio bolsonaro, lula da silva, brazil, presidential election, united states, news, world, politics
## Trump's election stance
US President Donald Trump has not endorsed either of Brazil's two leading presidential candidates.
## Trump's vague responses
Trump gave vague answers when asked about Brazil's election twice this week.

> I'm following it very closely. It's a very important country. The people of Brazil are fantastic. It's a very important election
## Trump's past endorsements
Trump previously backed candidates in Honduras, Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica.
## Bolsonaro meeting
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro met Trump in the Oval Office in May.
## US-Brazil tensions
US imposed tariffs and sanctions on Brazil over alleged terrorist links in 2025.
## Brazilian intelligence report
Brazilian Intelligence Agency raised US interference risk to critical level.
## Key takeaway

US President Donald Trump has not publicly supported either Lula or Flávio Bolsonaro in Brazil's upcoming presidential election.