South America's 'Leftist Godfather' Lula: 'Trump is Not an Emperor, He Can't Order Me'

[Financial News]  Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil, known as the 'godfather' of South America's leftists, has expressed discomfort with recent tariff attacks by U.S. President Donald Trump. He stated that Trump is not the "emperor of the world" and that he will not heed his orders, although negotiations are possible.

Lula mentioned Trump's method of tariff notification in an interview with CNN on the 17th (local time). Trump declared reciprocal tariffs on 185 countries and regions worldwide last April, only to defer it a week later, stating that he would negotiate with each country during the grace period. However, he did not negotiate with as many countries as he wanted. From the 7th, Trump began unilaterally notifying tariffs through social media Truth Social. He also posted an image of the reciprocal tariff notification sent to Lula on Truth Social on the 9th. The reciprocal tariff rate on Brazilian products was significantly increased to 50% from April's 10%.

Regarding the announcement on the 9th, Lula said, "I initially thought Trump's social media post was not true and was fake news," and added, "I was very displeased." Lula emphasized that Trump was not elected as the U.S. President to become the "emperor of the world." At the BRICS summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the 7th, Lula also stated, "It is very wrong for the president of a large country like the United States to intimidate the world through online networks," and "We do not want an emperor."

In a letter on the 9th, Trump criticized Brazil's unfair trade practices while demanding the suspension of the former president's trial, sparking controversy over interference in domestic affairs. Trump mentioned former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in the letter. He claimed, "I and other leaders respect Brazil's Bolsonaro," and "The way Brazil is handling Bolsonaro is an international disgrace." He further emphasized, "This trial should not be opened. The witch hunt must end immediately."

Bolsonaro, known as 'Brazil's Trump' for his radical right-wing policies, maintained a close relationship with Trump's first administration during his tenure (2019-2022). After losing to Lula in the 2022 presidential election, he also claimed election fraud, similar to Trump. On January 8th of the following year, Bolsonaro supporters staged a large-scale election protest riot in Brasília. Brazilian prosecutors indicted a total of 34 people, including Bolsonaro and his aides, related to the incident last February. Prosecutors claimed that the suspects conspired to stage a coup and prepare for Lula's assassination by creating an atmosphere of election denial. The first trial is scheduled for September.

Lula stated through CNN, "Trump's threats are beyond diplomatic norms, and my predecessor's fate should not be considered a subject of trade negotiations." He pointed out, "The Brazilian judiciary is independent, and the president cannot exert any influence, and (Bolsonaro) is not being tried on a personal level."

Additionally, Lula said that Trump's tariff notification is "not yet seen as a crisis" and "the best thing is for us to sit at the table and talk." Lula declared, "Brazil does not accept coercion, and it is clear that bilateral relations should not continue as they are now," adding, "I am ready to negotiate everything necessary."

On the same day, during a meeting with students in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil, Lula said in a speech, "The 'Gringo' is not someone who can order the Brazilian president." 'Gringo' is a term used in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking regions to refer to English-speaking residents, often used derogatorily for Americans. Foreign media analyzed Lula's remarks as targeting Trump.






pjw@fnnews.com Park Jong-won Reporter