SÃO PAULO — U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday criticized Brazilian authorities over what he referred to as “a witch hunt” in opposition to former President Jair Bolsonaro and stated he will likely be “intently monitoring” his trial.
The South American far-right chief, who ruled between 2019 and 2022, is standing trial earlier than the nation’s Supreme Courtroom for his position in an alleged coup try in January 2023. He’s already ineligible for subsequent yr’s vote. The previous president has repeatedly denied the allegations and stated he’s the goal of political persecution.
In his first such remark since Bolsonaro’s trial started, Trump stated in a social media publish that Brazil “is doing a horrible factor of their therapy” of his ally. He added that Bolsonaro “is just not responsible of something, aside from having fought for the individuals,” and in contrast the Brazilian’s state of affairs to his personal.
“This occurred to me, occasions 10,” the U.S. president stated. “I will likely be intently monitoring the witch hunt of Jair Bolsonaro, his household, and hundreds of his supporters. Go away Bolsonaro alone!”
Bolsonaro responded by saying on social media that Trump’s “battle for peace, justice and liberty echoes worldwide,” and he thanked the U.S. chief for “giving us a task mannequin for religion and resilience.”
Bolsonaro has been declared ineligible to run for workplace till 2030 by Brazil’s electoral court docket for abuse of energy in the course of the 2022 election, when he narrowly misplaced to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Lula stated in a press release that didn’t point out Trump that “the protection of democracy in Brazil is a subject for Brazilians. We’re a sovereign nation.”
Brazil’s president added: “Now we have stable and unbiased establishments. Nobody is above the legislation. Much more so those that assault freedom and the rule of legislation.”
Later, talking on the sidelines of a summit of BRICS rising economies in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s president stated he had “extra necessary issues to remark” on than Trump’s publish on Bolsonaro.
“Go handle your personal life, not ours,” Lula stated.
Brazil’s Supreme Courtroom didn’t touch upon Trump’s message.
____ Related Press journalist Eléonore Hughes in Rio de Janeiro contributed to this report.
