Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told the BBC in an exclusive interview that he has 'no relationship' with US President Donald Trump. Lula has frequently criticized Trump, but this is the clearest signal yet that he thinks communication between him and his US counterpart is now broken.
Even though the US has a trade surplus with Brazil, Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods in July, citing the trial on coup charges of Brazil's right-wing former president, Jair Bolsonaro, as a trigger. Lula described the tariffs as 'eminently political' and said consumers in the US would face higher prices as a result.
The tariffs have negatively impacted Brazilian exports such as coffee and beef, leading Lula to warn that 'the American people will pay for the mistakes' made by Trump regarding Brazil. The two leaders have never spoken directly to each other. Lula explained that he never attempted to initiate a conversation because Trump and his administration did not seem willing to engage.
When asked about his relationship with Trump, Lula simply stated, 'There's no relationship.' He criticized the way Trump handles communication, noting that he learned about the tariffs through Brazilian newspapers rather than an official discussion.
Lula expressed frustration at Trump's leadership, claiming, 'He didn't communicate in a civilised manner,' referring to Trump's social media posts about the tariffs.
As for Lula's diplomatic dealings, he noted his history of developing relationships with prior US presidents, UK prime ministers, the EU, and others, emphasizing that his issues with Trump were exceptional. Lula remarked that if he encountered Trump at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, he would at least greet him, but also stressed that Trump may be president of the United States but is 'not emperor of the world!'.
Lula’s criticisms extend to Trump's support of Bolsonaro, who was recently convicted of plotting a coup, with Lula asserting that the Capitol riot of January 6, 2021, would have seen Trump prosecuted had it occurred in Brazil.
In the BBC interview, Lula also advocated for reforming the United Nations, highlighting that the power of the Security Council’s permanent members is disproportionate and detrimental to global democracy.
Overall, Lula's comments reflect a growing discontent with Trump’s foreign policy and an emphasis on Brazil's autonomy in the face of international challenges.
Even though the US has a trade surplus with Brazil, Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods in July, citing the trial on coup charges of Brazil's right-wing former president, Jair Bolsonaro, as a trigger. Lula described the tariffs as 'eminently political' and said consumers in the US would face higher prices as a result.
The tariffs have negatively impacted Brazilian exports such as coffee and beef, leading Lula to warn that 'the American people will pay for the mistakes' made by Trump regarding Brazil. The two leaders have never spoken directly to each other. Lula explained that he never attempted to initiate a conversation because Trump and his administration did not seem willing to engage.
When asked about his relationship with Trump, Lula simply stated, 'There's no relationship.' He criticized the way Trump handles communication, noting that he learned about the tariffs through Brazilian newspapers rather than an official discussion.
Lula expressed frustration at Trump's leadership, claiming, 'He didn't communicate in a civilised manner,' referring to Trump's social media posts about the tariffs.
As for Lula's diplomatic dealings, he noted his history of developing relationships with prior US presidents, UK prime ministers, the EU, and others, emphasizing that his issues with Trump were exceptional. Lula remarked that if he encountered Trump at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, he would at least greet him, but also stressed that Trump may be president of the United States but is 'not emperor of the world!'.
Lula’s criticisms extend to Trump's support of Bolsonaro, who was recently convicted of plotting a coup, with Lula asserting that the Capitol riot of January 6, 2021, would have seen Trump prosecuted had it occurred in Brazil.
In the BBC interview, Lula also advocated for reforming the United Nations, highlighting that the power of the Security Council’s permanent members is disproportionate and detrimental to global democracy.
Overall, Lula's comments reflect a growing discontent with Trump’s foreign policy and an emphasis on Brazil's autonomy in the face of international challenges.
