Lula warns Trump to stop interfering in Brazil's elections

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Wednesday forcefully rejected remarks by his US counterpart Donald Trump, who had described Brazil as “a bit dangerous” and questioned the legitimacy of its October elections. Speaking in Brasília, Lula told reporters that Trump should “not interfere” in Brazil’s electoral process, adding that the American leader could “continue to love father, son, and grandson” but must stay out of Brazilian politics. “Who needs to learn from Brazil’s civilised elections is Trump,” Lula said, according to AFP reports carried by Digi24 and Agerpres .

Trump’s comments, first reported on Tuesday, suggested Brazil had become “a little complicated” and that the political situation had grown “a bit dangerous.” Lula’s response was echoed across Portuguese-language media, with HotNews quoting him as saying Trump should refrain from meddling in Brazil’s vote . The Portuguese outlet also highlighted Lula’s insistence that Brazil’s elections are conducted with civility, a pointed contrast to Trump’s remarks.

Al Jazeera noted that Lula is locked in a tight race for re-election against right-wing candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, a Trump ally, underscoring the high stakes of the October vote . The Portuguese newspaper Observador similarly reported Lula’s message in Portuguese, quoting him as saying, “Don’t meddle in Brazil’s elections,” and asserting that Trump should learn from Brazil’s democratic practices .

The diplomatic exchange comes as Brazil prepares for a pivotal presidential contest that will determine whether Lula secures a fourth term at age 80. Analysts see Trump’s remarks as potentially inflaming tensions ahead of the vote, especially given his public support for Bolsonaro. Lula’s insistence on non-interference reflects broader concerns in Brasília about foreign meddling in domestic politics, a sensitive issue in a region where electoral integrity has been a recurring flashpoint.