Brazil Politics: Lula Races to Capitalize on Trump Tariff Threat

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pledged to retaliate with measures of his own after Donald Trump said he would impose 50% tariffs on Brazil, while his government and allies raced to seize on the threats for political gain.

The government launched a media blitz to argue that Trump is trying to interfere in Brazilian affairs after he cited a political “Witch Hunt” against former President Jair Bolsonaro and criticized steps taken against US social media companies by Brazil’s Supreme Court.