Thousands of Bolsonaro's supporters protest in Brazil after US sanctions

Thousands of supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro took to the streets across several Brazilian cities on Sunday, thanking Donald Trump for the sanctions imposed on Brazil and Judge Alexandre de Moraes for overseeing Bolsonaro’s trial. The most notable absentee from the rallies was Bolsonaro himself, who is required to wear an electronic ankle monitor, remain at home during nights and weekends, and is prohibited from using social media.

The demonstrations took place in São Paulo, Brasília and Rio de Janeiro, where protesters marched under the green and yellow colors of the national flag, carrying signs thanking U.S. President Donald Trump.

"He can't speak, but we can speak for him," said Congressman Marco Feliciano, addressing protesters gathered on Paulista Avenue, the iconic São Paulo thoroughfare where Sunday’s main demonstration took place.

Bolsonaro followed the protests via cell phone

A member of Jair Bolsonaro's entourage sent AFP a video of the former president (2019–2022), dressed in Bermuda shorts and a Brazilian national soccer team jersey, watching footage of the protests on his phone.

Accused of conspiring to cling to power after his 2022 election defeat to leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, he faces a lengthy prison sentence in a trial expected to conclude in the coming weeks.

Trump denounced "witch hunt" against Bolsonaro in imposing 50% tariffs

On Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed financial sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the trial and has been criticized by Bolsonaro supporters for his fight against disinformation, which they equate with "censorship."

That same day, Trump decried a "witch hunt" against his South American ally and announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian products imported into the United States, a measure set to take effect on August 6.

At the demonstration on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach, Flávio Bolsonaro, the former president’s eldest son, praised the sanctions against Justice Moraes, declaring, "The largest democracy in the world has designated him a human rights violator."

Lula insists on asking Trump for negotiations

At a Workers’ Party event held this Sunday, President Lula addressed the issue of punitive tariffs imposed by the United States on Brazil.

"We want to negotiate (...), we don't want to fight. But let them not think we are afraid," he said.

"We want to negotiate on equal terms, we want to be respected at our fair value," insisted the president of South America's largest economy.

Tariffs are "Lula's fault, who has been provoking Trump for a long time"

At the Bolsonaro supporters’ march in Brasília, protester Erick Fabiano said the customs surcharge imposed by Washington "is not Bolsonaro’s fault. It’s Lula’s fault, who has been provoking Trump for a long time."

"I totally agree with these sanctions. Since we haven't found a solution here, it had to come from outside," said Maristela dos Santos, 62, at the demonstration in Rio de Janeiro.

With a U.S. flag draped over her shoulders, this teacher said she isn’t particularly worried about the economic impact of the customs surcharge announced by Washington. "What worries me is that Brazil will turn into Venezuela, and we won’t be able to find enough food at the supermarket," she said, referring to Nicolás Maduro’s government in the neighboring country.

For Paulo Roberto, a 46-year-old businessman, the punitive U.S. tariffs are a necessary evil. "Sometimes you have to take five steps back to have more freedom and a better quality of life," said the muscular man with arms covered in tattoos.