U.S. Will Act Appropriately in Response to Brazil’s Imprisonment of Jair Bolsonaro

Secretary of State Responds to Bolsonaro’s Conviction

On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a statement in light of the recent sentencing of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been given a 27-year prison term. Rubio expressed the U.S. commitment to addressing what it considers human rights violations.

Bolsonaro, a conservative leader who was in power from 2018 to 2022, has faced a series of challenges, including serious health issues stemming from assassination attempts. After losing the 2022 election to incumbent Lula da Silva, he claimed that Brazil’s Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) failed to properly investigate his allegations of a coup attempt. It’s noteworthy that he lost the election following a conviction on a corruption charge back in 2017.

The STF’s involvement, particularly under the oversight of Justice Alexandre de Moraes, fueled doubts among Bolsonaro’s supporters, leading many to question the legitimacy of Lula’s victory. This scrutiny resulted in legal actions against Bolsonaro and some of his closest allies.

On Thursday, the STF sentenced the 70-year-old Bolsonaro for “crimes against democracy.” He, along with six co-defendants, was found guilty of trying to violently undermine democratic governance, participating in armed criminal organizations, and other related charges stemming from a riot in Brasilia on January 8, 2023. Interestingly, Bolsonaro was in the United States during the chaos, which caused some significant property damage but fortunately did not lead to serious injuries. Along with the prison sentence, the court also imposed an eight-year ban on him holding public office, starting after his release—meaning he could only return to politics at age 105.

A recent Parana Pesquisas poll indicated that Bolsonaro remains a formidable contender against Lula in the 2026 elections, reflecting his continued popularity in Brazil.

In Rubio’s statement following the announcement of the conviction, he criticized Justice de Moraes as a “human rights abuser” and warned of U.S. repercussions.

“The political targeting exhibited by Brazil’s Supreme Court, particularly against Bolsonaro, continues,” Rubio noted. “The United States will respond appropriately to this ongoing persecution.”

Rubio has taken steps to address the issue of foreign officials abusing U.S. visas and made clear his condemnation of the conviction.

“It pains me as a friend of Brazil to see legal processes weaponized,” he added, referring to how these actions could harm U.S.-Brazil relations. “As long as Brazil’s future lies in the hands of Judge Moraes, I fear we remain in a crisis.”

Former President Donald Trump also weighed in briefly, defending Bolsonaro and drawing parallels between Bolsonaro’s situation and his own legal challenges. “I thought he was a good president. This is surprising,” Trump commented.

Interestingly, the Trump administration had previously expressed strong disapproval of Brazil’s legal actions against Bolsonaro, suggesting that such moves threatened national security. The administration had even sanctioned de Moraes, utilizing the Magnitsky Act aimed at international human rights violators. In July, Trump signed an order highlighting the threat Brazilian actions posed to U.S. interests.

These sanctions spurred peaceful demonstrations in Brazil, with people rallying to show support for Bolsonaro while criticizing the Lula administration’s stance on imprisoning him and his affiliates as a measure to protect democracy.