247 - An initiative by the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), caused surprise — and disapproval — among ministers of the Supreme Federal Court (STF).
According to a report in Folha de S.Paulo, Tarcísio called members of the Court with a proposal considered outside institutional standards: he asked that former president Jair Bolsonaro be authorized to travel to the United States to meet with Donald Trump, the current US president.
According to the investigation, Tarcísio's justification was that Bolsonaro had sufficient contact with Trump to intercede on Brazil's behalf, especially to negotiate the removal of a 50% tariff imposed by the US on Brazilian products. According to the governor, this arrangement would serve as a political gesture by the Supreme Federal Court (STF) toward Bolsonarism.
The proposal was promptly rejected by Supreme Court justices, who considered the request"completely unreasonable." Bolsonaro's passport is being withheld by court order and is being investigated for crimes including attempted coup d'état. Judges assess that there is a real risk that the former president will seek political asylum with Trump and not return to Brazil.
Furthermore, the Court emphasized that international negotiations are the exclusive responsibility of the Presidency of the Republic and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As the justices emphasized, Bolsonaro does not hold any public office and, therefore, has no standing to represent Brazil in diplomatic matters.
Trump sends letter to Lula and pressures for amnesty for Bolsonaro
Tarcísio's attempt came amid behind-the-scenes moves to secure a judicial pardon for Bolsonaro. According to the former president's interlocutors, the plan was for him to travel with the Speaker of the House, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), and the President of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP), to begin talks on a possible amnesty to be approved by the National Congress.
A central point of Bolsonaro's attack is the letter Donald Trump sent to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In the letter, the US president claims that the surcharges imposed on Brazilian products are due, in part, to the"witch hunt" against Bolsonaro. Trump called the former president's trial by the Supreme Court an"international disgrace."
The letter caused discomfort at the Planalto Palace, which decided to return it without a formal response. In interviews, Lula stated that he will seek dialogue with Trump, but warned that if there is no progress by August, Brazil will respond with retaliatory measures, including new tariffs on US products.
Image with MAGA hat reinforces ideological alignment
The rapprochement between Tarcísio de Freitas and Trump isn't limited to behind-the-scenes interactions. In a social media post on January 20, 2025, the governor appeared wearing a red cap emblazoned with the phrase"MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN"—the Republican leader's campaign slogan. The image went viral and reinforced the ideological alignment with Trumpism, at a time when the Brazilian far right is trying to regroup forces.
