Brazil Orders Bolsonaro Ankle Monitor Amid Coup Trial

In 2025, President Donald Trump has taken aggressive measures to support his ally, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is on trial for allegedly plotting a coup to overturn Brazil's 2022 election results. Trump has threatened to impose 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports and initiated investigations into Brazil’s trade practices while the U.S. State Department revoked visas of Brazilian Supreme Court judges involved in Bolsonaro’s prosecution. Bolsonaro, often called the 'Trump of the Tropics,' faces potential conviction and decades-long imprisonment for his alleged coup attempt and related plots, including assassination plans against Brazil’s current president Lula and Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Despite Trump’s efforts to quash the trial, Brazil's judiciary and President Lula have resisted U.S. pressure, maintaining the rule of law and condemning the interference. Trump has also drawn controversial parallels between Bolsonaro’s case and his own claims against former President Obama and other Democrats, accusing them of leading a coup, though these accusations lack evidence. This situation highlights a reversal of traditional roles, with Brazil upholding judicial accountability while the U.S. under Trump exerts pressure against it, reflecting ongoing tensions within right-wing populism globally.