When former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about Brazil, headlines follow — and so does a spotlight we no longer shy away from. While his recent defense of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro stirred controversy, it also inadvertently reaffirmed something more profound: Brazil has become a geopolitical player that can no longer be dismissed, coerced, or treated as a satellite state.
Gone are the days when Brazil was seen merely through the lens of samba, football, and the Amazon. The world is beginning to recognize the real weight Brazil carries: a country the size of a continent, with unmatched biodiversity, clean energy leadership, food security assets, and one of the largest democratic populations on Earth. In an increasingly multipolar world, Brazil is not just part of the equation — it is reshaping it.
LEFT-WING BLUES: @realdonaldTrump unloads a scorcher on his way to Pittsburgh—blasts @SenAdamSchiff for alleged mortgage fraud, slams @AOC and @RepJasmine as low-IQ, and even labels NYC mayor hopeful @ZohranKMamdani a “communist”! pic.twitter.com/KHsYOEN6wb
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 15, 2025
Trump’s comments came shortly after his administration announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, directly linked to Bolsonaro’s ongoing legal battles — an overt display of political pressure disguised as trade policy. This approach may have worked in the 20th century. It doesn’t work anymore.
In 2025, Brazil is not a passive observer. It is an assertive actor. Here, the rule of law applies, even to former presidents. The ongoing judicial proceedings against Bolsonaro reflect an institutional maturity that contrasts with the “witch hunt” narrative pushed by Trump — a narrative that speaks more to U.S. political polarization than to Brazilian justice.
The new Brazil engages with multiple global poles — maintaining dialogue with the U.S. and China, strengthening ties within BRICS and the G20, and expanding partnerships across the Global South. We are not a vassal state. We are a sovereign nation, aware of our responsibilities and our growing influence in a fragile world order.
Trump may have tried to frame Brazil’s internal affairs to suit his own rhetoric. But the unintended result was global attention. And this time, the world isn’t just watching — it’s listening. Brazil has something to say. And it no longer needs anyone’s permission to say it.
