Lula, Trump Discuss Trade Deal, Bolsonaro's Past at ASEAN Summit

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and U.S. President Donald Trump met at the ASEAN summit in Malaysia to discuss trade tensions, including the 50% tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Brazilian products. Lula expressed optimism that a trade agreement could be reached in the coming days to resolve these issues. Trump also spoke about his support for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, calling him a "great man" and expressing sympathy for Bolsonaro's imprisonment on charges related to an alleged coup plot. Bolsonaro's allies claimed that the topic of Bolsonaro's incarceration was a sensitive subject during Lula and Trump's talks, with Bolsonaro's supporters suggesting Lula was unsettled by Trump's remarks. Lula conveyed to Trump the seriousness of Bolsonaro's trial, including allegations that Bolsonaro hatched a plot to kill Lula, which Trump compared to his own experiences with political persecution. Both leaders agreed to have their teams work immediately on tariff and sanction issues to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.