Brazil’s Lula slams Trump over interference, tariffs

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump for what he called attempts to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, calling such behavior “unacceptable.”

“He was elected president of the United States, not the sheriff of the world,” Lula told Record TV.

Lula also called Trump’s letter announcing 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods “absurd” and promised a response.

He said Brazil had a $7 billion trade deficit with the U.S. in 2023 and emphasized that trade with the U.S. accounted for only 1.7% of Brazil’s GDP. Lula said Brazil values its relationship with the U.S., but not at the expense of national sovereignty.