247 - Federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) said, in an interview with Reuters this Thursday (14), that he would accept running for President of the Republic in 2026 if this were a “mission” given by his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL), who is now ineligible. “If it is a mission given by my father... I would accept the challenge”, he declared.

In the conversation with Reuters, held at the agency's office in Washington, Eduardo also once again defended tariffs and sanctions imposed by the United States on Brazil as a way of putting pressure on the Supreme Federal Court (STF) and, in particular, Minister Alexandre de Moraes, whom he called a"gangster","psychopath" and "mafioso".

Support for Trump's tariffs

The congressman described the 50% tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration on products such as Brazilian beef, coffee, fish and shoes as a"bitter pill" intended to contain what he called an "uncontrolled legal offensive" against the former president.

"I've been warning all those who intend to approach this solely from a commercial perspective. That won't work. We need to send the United States an initial signal that we are resolving this institutional crisis," he stated.

According to Eduardo, agribusiness—a traditional support base for Bolsonarism—considers it worthwhile to bear financial losses to “restore institutional normality” in the country.

Sanctions and attacks on Moraes

The congressman said he expects new sanctions from Washington to soon target officials such as Health Minister Alexandre Padilha and former President Dilma Rousseff, for their participation in the Mais Médicos program during the Workers' Party administrations. He also advocated for Moraes' wife, a lawyer, to be targeted with restrictive measures.

The Supreme Federal Court (STF) is investigating Jair Bolsonaro and Eduardo for allegedly appealing to the White House for political support. Moraes placed the former president under house arrest in early August and prohibited contact with his son, who has been living in the US since March to lobby Trump for support for his father.

Criticism of Lula and diplomatic tension

Eduardo Bolsonaro stated that he sees no possibility of Brazil negotiating tariff reductions without concessions from the Supreme Court and said that"the Supreme Court justices must understand that they have lost their power." President Lula, for his part, has already rejected Trump's demands, calling them an affront to sovereignty and calling Jair and Eduardo Bolsonaro"traitors" for encouraging US intervention.

Political future and life in the USA

Despite saying he has no personal ambition to be president, Eduardo raised the possibility of running for president if Jair Bolsonaro—convicted by the Superior Electoral Court and ineligible until 2030—chose him as his successor. The congressman also avoided discussing his immigration status, but stated he has authorization to remain in the United States"for quite some time" and did not rule out seeking asylum or citizenship.