Tensions rise as Lula blasts U.S. over visa sanctions tied to Bolsonaro trial

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva known as a U.S. choice to impose visa bans on officers concerned in former President Jair Bolsonaro’s trial “arbitrary” and “baseless,” and mentioned international interference within the judiciary was “unacceptable.”

In an announcement on Saturday (July 19, 2025), the leftist chief mentioned the motion violated elementary rules of respect and sovereignty between nations.

In an escalation of tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and the federal government of Latin America’s largest financial system, Washington imposed visa restrictions on Friday (July 18, 2025) on Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, his household and different unnamed courtroom officers.

The visa bans had been a response to the Supreme Court’s choice to situation search warrants and restraining orders concentrating on Mr. Trump ally Mr. Bolsonaro, who’s accused of plotting a coup to overturn the outcomes of a 2022 election he misplaced.

“I am certain that no form of intimidation or threat, from anyone, will compromise the most important mission of Brazil’s powers and institutions, which is to permanently defend and uphold the democratic rule of law,” mentioned Mr. Lula.

Solicitor General Jorge Messias, the highest judicial official for Mr. Lula’s government department, mentioned in an announcement posted on X late Friday that Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet was additionally focused by the ban.

Mr. Messias mentioned no “improper maneuver” or “sordid conspiratorial act” would intimidate the judiciary in finishing up its duties with independence, as he condemned what he additionally described as arbitrary U.S. visa revocations concentrating on Brazilian officers for fulfilling their constitutional obligations.

In addition to Mr. Moraes, seven different justices from Brazil’s 11-member Supreme Court had been additionally hit by the U.S. visa restrictions, Government Institutional Relations Minister Gleisi Hoffmann mentioned on Friday.

They embody justices Luis Roberto Barroso, Dias Toffoli, Cristiano Zanin, Flavio Dino, Carmen Lucia, Edson Fachin, and Gilmar Mendes.

The Prosecutor General’s Office and the Supreme Court didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

Mr. Trump has criticised the proceedings in opposition to Mr. Bolsonaro as a “witch hunt”, a time period he has used to explain his personal therapy by political opponents, and has known as for the fees to be dropped. In a letter final week, he introduced a 50% tariff on Brazilian items beginning August 1, opening the message with criticism of the trial.

Mr. Bolsonaro is on trial earlier than Brazil’s Supreme Court on fees of plotting a coup to cease Mr. Lula from taking workplace in January 2023.

The right-wing firebrand has denied that he led an try and overthrow the federal government however has acknowledged collaborating in conferences aimed toward reversing the election’s consequence.