Trump tariffs ignite blame game in presidential race
With Brazil’s presidential election less than three months away, the new 25% U.S. tariffs on Brazilian exports, announced early Thursday, immediately became a campaign issue, as the Workers’ Party (PT) and the Liberal Party (PL) traded blame over President Donald Trump’s decision.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced the tariffs after an investigation into what the U.S. government described as unfair Brazilian trade practices. The measures, approved by President Trump, will take effect on July 22. Washington cited issues such as Brazil’s treatment of Pix, the country’s instant payment system; restrictions on ethanol market access; and concerns about corruption and deforestation.
Within hours of the announcement, President Lula’s campaign launched a coordinated social media effort urging supporters to link the tariffs to the Bolsonaro family. The campaign accused Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the Liberal Party’s presidential candidate, and his allies of undermining Brazil’s economy and sovereignty. PT officials branded him a “traitor” and alleged that he had worked in favor of U.S. interests.
Lula and his party now plan to intensify a campaign focused on defending Brazil’s sovereignty and national interests while challenging the right’s traditional dominance on social media.
One message, distributed through a pro-Lula messaging channel used to coordinate supporters on social media, read: “With the announcement of the new 25% Trump administration tariffs on Brazil, our MISSION IS CLEAR: SPREAD THE TRUTH! Let’s show who is behind this attack on our sovereignty: THE BOLSONARO FAMILY and its ALLIES.”
Another message said: “True patriots defend Brazil. Most Brazilians already know who the real traitors are. Those who root against Brazil abroad will never defend Brazil at home.”
PT communications secretary Éden Valadares described “TariFlávio”—a nickname coined by party supporters by combining “tariff” with Flávio’s name—as “the greatest act of betrayal in Brazil’s political history.”
“The Bolsonaro family’s actions have gone far beyond legitimate political opposition. Beyond submitting Brazil’s sovereignty to U.S. interests, Flávio Bolsonaro’s deliberate efforts to persuade Trump to impose tariffs show that he prioritized personal and electoral interests over the defense of Brazil’s economy,” Valadares said.
He noted that Flávio Bolsonaro traveled to the United States shortly before the tariff announcement and formally requested that the measures be postponed rather than canceled, arguing that postponement would effectively legitimize the trade action. “The submission was clearly calculated. The subservience was thoroughly documented. The betrayal was recorded for history,” Valadares said.
Institutional Relations Minister José Guimarães echoed the criticism, accusing Flávio Bolsonaro and his family of serving as “lobbyists for U.S. interests in Brazil.” He also said the senator’s attempt to blame Lula for the tariffs reflected “desperation” over the Banco Master investigation and its alleged links to businessman Daniel Vorcaro.
Other PT leaders likewise portrayed the tariffs as politically motivated. Senate government leader Teresa Leitão said the new duties stemmed from “political reasons,” while Lower House PT caucus leader Pedro Uczai urged the government to invoke Brazil’s Reciprocity Law, adding that Brasília would take measures to protect companies, jobs and the broader economy.
Facing criticism, Flávio Bolsonaro tweeted that Lula’s administration failed to stop Trump’s decision. “Lula is no longer fit to be Brazil’s president. We’re on a plane without a pilot,” he said.
He also called Lula “Brazil’s Biden,” drawing a comparison to former U.S. President Joe Biden. “The Brazilian Biden has become grumpy, reckless and a danger to our nation. When people look at Lula, they don’t see the future. They see the past, stagnation, uncertainty, distrust, corruption, incompetence and revenge. Enough. Brazil has a future, but it has no more time to waste,” the senator wrote.
In late May, amid political fallout from reports that he had requested financial backing from former banker Daniel Vorcaro of Banco Master, Flávio Bolsonaro visited the United States and met with President Trump alongside former congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro. After the new tariffs were announced, opponents used the meeting to reinforce accusations that the Bolsonaro family had influenced the decision.
Earlier this month, Flávio Bolsonaro returned to the United States and argued before Trump administration officials that imposing the tariffs now would strengthen Lula politically. He asked Washington to postpone the measures for 180 days—until after Brazil’s October presidential election.
Last year, when Trump first imposed tariffs on Brazilian products, Flávio and Eduardo Bolsonaro publicly supported the measures while seeking amnesty for their father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a sentence for an attempted coup. They argued that the tariffs should remain in place until their father was released.
President Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro
Marcelo Camargo/Agência Brasil e Andressa Anholete/Agência Senado
