Nov 29, 2024 - Politics & Policy

"We'll be back too": Brazil's Bolsonaro revels in Trump's win

Ivana Saric

Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil's former president, speaks to supporters during a protest against the country's ban of X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, on Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Saturday, Sept. 7, — Jair Bolsonaro speaks to supporters during a protest in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Sept. 7. Photo: Maira Erlich/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro believes President-elect Trump's electoral victory has set the stage for his own political comeback — and he wants Trump to use his influence to help restore his eligibility to run in 2026.

Why it matters: More than perhaps any other leader, Bolsonaro borrowed from the Trump playbook, most recently by refusing to concede an election defeat. He's arguing that Trump's return will help power a resurgence of international hard-right populism.

The big picture: Bolsonaro's Trump-style claims that Brazil's voting machines might be rigged against him led the country's highest elections court in 2023 to ban him from holding office for eight years. That would preclude him from running in the 2026 presidential election.

However, Bolsonaro told the Wall Street Journal in an interview published Friday that he plans to register for the 2026 election anyway and expects Trump to help him.
Bolsonaro suggested that Trump could wield his influence — possibly via sanctions — to pressure Brazil to delay enforcement of the court ruling.

What they're saying: "Trump is back, and it's a sign we'll be back too," Bolsonaro told the Journal.

In an unsubtle nod to Trump, the former president told the Journal that it was "time for MAAGA — Make All Americas Great Again."

Zoom out: Bolsonaro's remarks came just days after Brazilian police accused him helping plot a coup over his 2022 election loss to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Bolsonaro's implication in the plot follows an investigation into whether Bolsonaro incited a riot by his supporters in January 2023, when they stormed the presidential palace and other government buildings.
Bolsonaro has previously denied playing a role in the riot.

Go deeper: Brazil police accuse ex-president of coup plot

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"We'll be back too": Brazil's Bolsonaro revels in Trump's win

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