On July 9, Donald Trump shook the international stage with a bold move: he threatened to impose 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports unless the country's courts dropped charges against his political ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro. The ultimatum sparked outrage—not only within the Brazilian government but especially among the justices of the country’s Supreme Federal Court, who found themselves at the center of a sovereignty crisis.

Trump’s warning came during the court’s scheduled month-long recess. Despite several judges being abroad, they reacted swiftly. According to Bloomberg, emergency calls were made almost immediately after Trump’s statement. This wasn’t just a diplomatic clash—it was seen as a direct interference in Brazil’s judicial system.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees Bolsonaro’s case, promptly joined his fellow judges to coordinate a response. Their goal was to refute Trump’s assertion that Bolsonaro was the victim of a political “witch hunt.”

However, the plan for the court to issue the first official response changed after Chief Justice Luis Roberto Barroso consulted with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula argued that the political establishment should take the lead.

That same evening, Lula issued a sharp rebuke: “Brazil is a sovereign nation with independent institutions.” The message was clear—there was no collusion between the executive and judicial branches, and the U.S. president had crossed a line by attempting to pressure Brazil's legal system. Ironically, Trump’s intervention only intensified the judicial proceedings.

Judges Push Forward—Despite Recess

Rather than slow the case down, the Brazilian judiciary accelerated it. Even during the recess, Moraes ensured the case remained active. On July 14, the Attorney General’s Office submitted its final arguments, calling for Bolsonaro to be convicted for his alleged involvement in the January 8th coup attempt. A verdict is expected shortly after the court resumes in August.

Meanwhile, Trump doubled down in a public letter to Bolsonaro, writing, “I sincerely hope the Brazilian government changes course, stops attacking political opponents, and ends its absurd censorship regime.” He added that he would be “watching the situation closely.”

Brazil’s top court responded with an order for Bolsonaro to wear an ankle monitor, citing flight risk. The U.S. didn’t back down either—the State Department revoked visas for Moraes and several other judges involved in the case.

Mounting Pressure from Washington and the Right

Tensions between the two countries didn’t begin overnight. Earlier this year, U.S. diplomats warned Brazil that continued investigations into Bolsonaro’s alleged attempts to overturn the 2022 election could harm trade relations. The court dismissed the warning at the time, underestimating the extent of U.S. involvement—especially after Trump’s return to the White House.

Justice Moraes has drawn harsh criticism from right-wing media and politicians, particularly for his actions against disinformation campaigns on platforms like X, Facebook, and Rumble. He even engaged in a public feud with Elon Musk.

Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo spent months lobbying in Washington for sanctions against Brazilian judges. Last week, he visited D.C. with conservative commentator Paulo Figueiredo, grandson of a former military dictator. After meetings with State Department and White House officials, they reported receiving a firm warning.

“The message was unanimous: There will be no concessions unless Brazil takes the first step,” Figueiredo said. “We were told that if this continues, President Trump may take additional actions that could impact financial markets.”

Defending Democracy—The Court Holds the Line

Brazil’s judiciary is standing firm. For the justices, this is about defending democracy—especially after January 8, 2023, when thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed the Supreme Court, Congress, and presidential palace in scenes eerily reminiscent of the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6. But while America responded politically, Brazil has chosen the legal route.

In June 2023, Brazil’s electoral court—composed of rotating Supreme Court justices—banned Bolsonaro from running for office for eight years for spreading lies about the voting system. When federal police recommended indictment for an attempted coup in November 2024, the Supreme Court quickly approved it and prepared for trial.

Now, as Trump ramps up pressure, Brazil’s top judges are sending a clear message: democracy and judicial independence are not for sale—especially not under the threat of economic coercion.

#TRUMP , #Brazil , #Politics , #TradeWars , #Geopolitics

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