To President Donald Trump’s insulting and offensive letter threatening 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports unless President Lula da Silva stops his alleged “witch hunt” against former President Jair Bolsonaro, Lula pointedly responded, as quoted by the Rio Times in his English-language post on Twitter that Brazil’s relationship with the world “Sovereignty, respect and the unwavering defense of the interests of the Brazilian people are the values that guide our relationship with the world.” Remember, he said, “Brazil is a sovereign nation with independent institutions and will not accept any form of tutelage.”
As for the ongoing trial of Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of planning a coup d’état against Lula, witnessed in the violent riot on Jan. 8, 2023 in Brasilia orchestrated by Bolsonaro’s followers, Lula affirmed that “The judicial proceedings against those responsible for planning the coup d'état fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of Brazil´s Judicial Branch and, as such, are not subject to any interference or threats that could compromise the independence of national institutions.”
