Trump To Meet With Left-Wing President After Blasting Country’s ‘Insidious Attacks’ On Free Speech

President Donald Trump said he spoke to left-wing Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva over the phone on Monday, adding that the two leaders agreed to meet “in the not too distant future.”

The conversation with Lula focused on the economy and trade, according to the president. In July, Trump imposed a 40% tariff on Brazil, due in part to the country’s targeting of former President Jair Bolsonaro and its crackdown on speech on social media platforms. The 40% tariff came on top of a 10% baseline tariff that was already in place.

“This morning, I had a very good telephone call with President Lula, of Brazil. We discussed many things, but it was mostly focused on the Economy, and Trade, between our two Countries. We will be having further discussions, and will get together in the not too distant future, both in Brazil and the United States. I enjoyed the call — Our Countries will do very well together!” the president wrote in a post on Truth Social.

During the 30-minute call, Lula asked Trump to remove the 40% tariff on Brazilian goods, Reuters reported. Brazil exported around $40 billion worth of goods to the United States in 2024, with crude petroleum being the top product. The South American country is hoping to negotiate with Trump to bring the tariff rate down, and Brazilian officials said the phone call was “positive” and “better than expected.”

The conversation between Trump and Lula was held one month after Lula raged against the Trump administration’s trade policies, arguing, “Tariff blackmail is being normalized as a tool for conquering markets and interfering in domestic issues.”

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Lula added that BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — have become “victims of unjustified and illegal trade practices.” Trump has recently used tariffs to put increased pressure on Brazil and India. For India, Trump wants the country to stop purchasing oil and military equipment from Russia as he seeks to bring an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine. For Brazil, the president wants the country’s leftist politicians and judges to end their attacks on elections and free speech.

In July, Trump blasted Brazil’s “insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans.” The Trump administration also sanctioned Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, arguing that Brazil poses an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security. Moraes has been accused of suppressing political dissent and approving politically motivated police raids and bank account freezes.

After the contentious 2022 election, Moraes led the trial against Bolsonaro, who was accused of plotting to overthrow the government. Trump has defended Bolsonaro and called the trial a “WITCH HUNT.” Moraes also voted in favor of upholding a nationwide ban on Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, and holding social media companies liable for users’ posts.