Brazilian senator and presidential hopeful Flavio Bolsonaro announced on Tuesday that he plans to file charges against Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the leader of the Socialist Party, after Lula suggested that Bolsonaro’s sons should be “hanged” following a recent visit to the United States.
In a statement to local media, Bolsonaro indicated he would submit a complaint to Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF), arguing that Lula’s comments represented a threat and insight towards violence against his family during an official government event.
“Today, I will be filing a complaint with the STF concerning Lula’s threats against me. On June 2, 2026, he implied that I should meet the same fate as Tiradentes and be hanged. These statements are intimidation and encourage criminal behavior,” Bolsonaro mentioned. The details were reported extensively by Brazilian media.
As of the time of this report, the Brazilian presidential office hadn’t officially addressed the matter.
Senator Bolsonaro is gearing up to compete against Lula in the upcoming October 2026 presidential elections. He recently met with President Donald Trump at the White House alongside his brother, former lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro. Eduardo has been living in the U.S. since 2025 after seeking political asylum. Flavio is entering the presidential race after his father, the former president Jair Bolsonaro, was ousted and imprisoned last year for actions against democracy.
During his meeting with Trump, Bolsonaro urged the U.S. to designate two notorious Brazilian gangs, known as Red Command and First Capital Command (PCC), as terrorist organizations. Shortly after their meeting, the U.S. followed through and designated both groups as Specially Designated Global Terrorists and Foreign Terrorist Organizations, effective June 5.
Conservative figures in Brazil, including Mr. Bolsonaro, welcomed the U.S. designation of these gangs, but it sparked intense backlash from President Lula and his administration, which branded Bolsonaro a “traitor” to Brazil. At an event in Goiás state, Lula reiterated these accusations and likened Bolsonaro’s visit to historical events during Brazil’s colonial era.
“What do you mean? It seems to me that this Bolsonaro son is behaving even worse than his father. They are, in fact, traitors. They sought foreign intervention in Brazilian matters. It should be said clearly: They are traitors,” Lula asserted. “For lesser offenses, the traitor Joaquín Silveira de Reis was hanged.” Lula expressed further indignation, indicating that anyone who seeks outside intervention ought to reflect on their actions.
Media sources pointed out that Lula had misrepresented Brazilian history in his comments regarding the Bolsonaro family. Notably, Lula confused Joaquín Silveira dos Reis, who was linked to betrayals during the Mineira Conspiracy, with the more widely recognized figure, Joaquín José da Silva Xavier, also known as Tiradentes, who was executed for treason.
“Tiradentes was betrayed by Colonel Silverio dos Reis, a one-time friend who turned against him to alleviate his debts to the crown,” a fact-check from UOL explained, confirming the complexities surrounding these historical figures.
In response to Lula’s comments, Bolsonaro insisted that fear was not part of his vocabulary, sharing clips of his remarks on social media. Additionally, Lula alleged that during a previous meeting with Trump, Bolsonaro had urged him to impose tariffs on Brazil and weaken Lula’s campaign. This claim aligns with recent announcements from U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer, indicating that the Trump administration is considering new tariffs against Brazilian products in response to perceived unfair trade practices.
