Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addressed the nation through a televised speech, responding to threats made by his American counterpart, Donald Trump, regarding high tariffs on Brazil. Lula condemned these threats as “unacceptable extortion.”
On July 9, Trump announced his intention to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian exports to the United States unless Brazil halted legal proceedings against former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently facing charges related to an alleged coup attempt.
In his address, Lula labeled “some Brazilian politicians” who support Trump’s threats against the largest economy in Latin America as “traitors to the homeland.” He emphasized that “Brazil has only one owner: the Brazilian people.”
In a message directed at his predecessor, Trump urged Brazil via his social media platform, Truth Social, to “stop attacking” Bolsonaro.