Brazil Supreme Court Trials Bolsonaro Coup Plot Amid Trump Criticism

President Trump has vocally defended former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro amid Bolsonaro's trial in Brazil's Supreme Court over charges of plotting a coup to overturn the 2022 election results. Trump characterized the legal proceedings as a "witch hunt" and political persecution, urging Brazilian authorities to "leave Bolsonaro alone" and emphasizing that Bolsonaro was a strong leader who fought for the people. The trial, which carries potential prison sentences totaling up to 40 years, centers on Bolsonaro's alleged leadership of a criminal organization involved in an attempted coup and assassination plot against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and others. Brazilian President Lula responded firmly, condemning foreign interference and asserting that "no one is above the law," underscoring Brazil's sovereignty and independent institutions. The situation has strained US-Brazil relations, with Trump framing the trial as an attack on a political opponent, drawing parallels to investigations he has faced in the US. Bolsonaro's legal troubles also include charges of illegal spying on political rivals and environmentalists during his presidency, intensifying the scrutiny he faces.