President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday condemned the United States for revoking the visa of Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski, calling the move “irresponsible” and warning that Brazil would not accept being treated as subordinate.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting, Lula said, “I wanted to express my solidarity and the government’s solidarity with my colleague Lewandowski, who was faced with the irresponsible gesture of the United States in revoking his visa.”
The president stressed that Brazil would stand firm against unequal treatment.
“We are willing to sit at the table on equal terms. What we are not willing to do is be treated as if we were subordinates. We will not accept that from anyone,” he said.
Relations between Brazil and the US have remained strained during US President Donald Trump’s second term. Trump has repeatedly expressed support for Brazil’s former far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, who served from 2019 to 2023 and is now under house arrest while facing trial for allegedly plotting a coup after narrowly losing to Lula in the 2022 presidential election.
Trump has denounced the trial as a “witch hunt.” Writing on his Truth Social platform in July, he declared, “He is not guilty of anything, except having fought for THE PEOPLE.”
The US president also sent a letter to Lula warning of 50-percent tariffs on all Brazilian exports to the United States, citing what he called the mistreatment of Bolsonaro.
“The way that Brazil has treated former President Bolsonaro, a Highly Respected Leader throughout the World during his Term, including by the United States, is an international disgrace,” Trump wrote. “This trial should not be taking place. It is a Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!”
The revocation of Lewandowski’s visa follows earlier US measures against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is leading investigations into Bolsonaro. Washington had previously revoked de Moraes’ visa and imposed financial sanctions.
“De Moraes is responsible for an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicised prosecutions — including against former President Jair Bolsonaro,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
Reacting to the escalating measures, Lula defended Lewandowski, de Moraes, and other officials. “These attitudes are unacceptable — not only against Minister Lewandowski, but also against Supreme Court justices or any Brazilian official,” he told his cabinet.
The move against Lewandowski marks the latest in a series of US actions targeting Brazil’s government and judiciary, deepening political tensions between Brasília and Washington.
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