U.S.-Brazil Tensions Rise After Bolsonaro Coup Conviction

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Thursday that Washington will respond after Brazil’s Supreme Court sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup following his 2022 election defeat. Rubio accused Justice Alexandre de Moraes of “political persecution” and called the ruling a “witch hunt,” pledging U.S. action without giving details.

Brazil’s Foreign Ministry condemned Rubio’s remarks as a threat to its sovereignty, stressing that Brazilian democracy “will not be intimidated.” The conviction makes Bolsonaro the first former Brazilian president found guilty of attacking democratic institutions, with five justices voting against him.

U.S. President Donald Trump, a close ally of Bolsonaro, criticized the decision, comparing it to his own legal battles. Trump praised Bolsonaro as “a good man” and dismissed the verdict, suggesting it mirrored efforts to undermine him in the United States.

The conviction deepens political friction between Washington and Brasília. In July, Trump imposed 50% tariffs on most Brazilian goods in retaliation for what he labeled Bolsonaro’s persecution, though exemptions were later granted for passenger vehicles and aircraft components. The U.S. Treasury Department also sanctioned Justice Moraes, accusing him of human rights violations and restricting free expression.

Bolsonaro’s conviction and the U.S. response mark a historic turning point in Brazil’s political landscape, raising concerns about judicial independence, international relations, and growing comparisons between Bolsonaro’s downfall and Trump’s ongoing legal troubles.