Brazil’s Lula Slams US for Visa Revocations, Pressure Over Bolsonaro Trial

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has blasted the United States after another top Brazilian official had his visa revoked, calling it an “irresponsible” move that disrespects Brazil’s sovereignty.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Lula revealed that Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski recently lost his US visa.

“I wanted to express my solidarity and the government’s solidarity with my colleague Lewandowski who faced with the irresponsible gesture of the United States in revoking his visa,” Lula said.

He added that Brazil would not accept being treated as lesser:

“We are willing to sit at the table on equal terms. What we are not willing to do is be treated as if we were subordinates. We will not accept that from anyone.”

Relations between Brasília and Washington have soured under Donald Trump’s second term. Trump has openly defended his ally Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s far-right ex-president, who is now under house arrest and facing trial over an alleged coup plot after losing to Lula in 2022.

Bolsonaro denies wrongdoing, but prosecutors say he tried to overturn Lula’s win by declaring a “state of siege”, mobilizing the military, and forcing new elections. He could face up to 40 years in prison.

Trump has called the trial a “witch hunt”. On July 7, he posted online:

“He is not guilty of anything, except having fought for THE PEOPLE.”

Two days later, he sent Lula a letter warning of retaliation. By August 1, the US had slapped Brazil with 50% tariffs on all exports, the steepest rate Washington has against any country.

“This trial should not be taking place. It is a Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!” Trump wrote.

India is set to face similar tariffs over its imports of Russian fuel.

Washington has gone further by personally sanctioning Alexandre de Moraes, the Supreme Court justice overseeing Bolsonaro’s case.

The State Department revoked his US visa in July, as well as those of his immediate family, while accusing him of suppressing right-wing voices.

“Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes’s political witch hunt against Jair Bolsonaro created a persecution and censorship complex so sweeping that it not only violates basic rights of Brazilians, but also extends beyond Brazil’s shores to target Americans,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

The US Treasury later froze any of de Moraes’s US-linked assets and banned Americans from doing business with him.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused the judge of running “an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicized prosecutions — including against former President Jair Bolsonaro.”

At Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, Lula denounced the US measures as an attack on Brazil’s independence.

“These attitudes are unacceptable — not only against Minister Lewandowski, but also against Supreme Court justices or any Brazilian official,” he said.

With Bolsonaro’s trial verdict expected in September, pressure from Washington is only likely to intensify.