On Monday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed they had a phone conversation to address the strained diplomatic relations between their countries, particularly in light of the treatment of conservatives in Brazil.
Trump called the call “very good” and enjoyable, while Lula described it as friendly and lasting about 30 minutes. According to a statement from Brazil’s presidential palace, Trump initiated the contact. Over the past year, Lula has made remarks about Trump being a “liar” and claimed, without evidence, that he supports “anti-democratic” forces, even suggesting at times that Trump deserves jail time.
Lula stated to the BBC in September that if Trump had behaved like he did during the Capitol riots in Brazil, he would have faced justice, asserting that Brazilian law applies to everyone.
In response, Trump shared on his platform, Truth Social, that he would meet with Lula soon, including potentially in Brazil. Lula had visited the United States in late September for the United Nations General Assembly, where the two briefly greeted each other.
The main topic of their calls, as confirmed by both leaders, was about restoring economic relations between the two countries. This arises amidst the backdrop of Lula’s government prosecuting conservatives, notably the former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a lengthy prison sentence based on dubious charges related to a coup. Trump had previously responded to this situation by announcing tariffs on Brazilian imports.
On top of the tariffs, the U.S. government imposed personal sanctions on Alexandre de Moraes, a leading judge in Brazil’s Supreme Court, for his actions against conservative politicians.
While Trump didn’t specify whether human rights were a topic of discussion during the call, he mentioned various subjects that came up. He expressed enjoyment in the conversation, emphasizing a focus on economic and trade issues and hinted at future discussions between them.
Lula’s third term commenced in 2022, and the relationship between Brazil and the U.S. spans over 200 years. However, experts suggest that the dynamics have significantly worsened during Lula’s presidency. Lula’s team echoed Trump’s positive tone about the conversation.
The Brazilian leader saw the call as a chance to mend the historically friendly ties between the two nations, attractive as they are two prominent democracies in the West. Lula requested that Trump reduce the punitive tariffs his country faces, bringing them more in line with what other major trading partners experience.
Lula’s office confirmed that Trump appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to head negotiations with Brazil aimed at normalizing relations. On the Brazilian side, Vice President Gerald Alckmin is leading the efforts. Alckmin, upon addressing the press, conveyed a sense of optimism, describing the call as exceeding expectations.
Fernando Haddad, Lula’s economy minister, noted he would be traveling to the U.S. soon for events like the G20 summit and assured of seeking discussions with high-ranking American officials during his visit.
Bilateral meetings are anticipated, following the positive interactions that began at the U.N. Despite recent tension, Haddad mentioned maintaining the government’s strategy, which might keep Lula’s approach to Trump robust.
The call seems to have been facilitated by a chance meeting at the U.N. where Lula and Trump interacted briefly. During his U.N. speech, Lula criticized Trump’s policies without naming him, calling attention to the challenges posed by conservative leaders worldwide, particularly regarding sovereignty and unilateral actions, a likely nod to U.S. tariffs impacting Brazil.
Trump, while addressing the U.N., didn’t specifically mention Brazil. Nevertheless, he viewed his personal connection with Lula positively, recalling their interaction fondly and suggesting they had good chemistry.
