Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) declared this Monday 15 that associating the President of the United States, Donald Trump, with his pre-candidacy for the presidency of the Republic would not be positive for him.
This statement was made during an interview with the LeoDias TV YouTube channel. And this is happening in the wake of Trump’s erosion of Bolsonarista activism.
Last Friday, Trump removed the name of Minister of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), Alexandre de Moraes, from the list of people sanctioned by the Magnitsky Act. The decision also provided for the withdrawal of lawyer Viviane Barci, wife of the judge, and of the Instituto Lex, a company managed by Viviane with the participation of the couple’s children.
Moraes was sanctioned by the Trump administration on July 30 amid pressure from US authorities for the Supreme Court to back down in the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro for leading a criminal organization in an attempted coup.
Flávio denied that the lifting of sanctions constituted a weakening of the Bolsonaro family. Indeed, the White House movement had honored federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP), who went into exile in the United States to coordinate with the White House sanctions against the Brazilian authorities.
“The sanctions imposed on Brazil and the Magnitsky Act were not a manipulation on the part of Eduardo. The American companies and citizens persecuted by Moraes have always been in Trump’s interest. To believe that Eduardo is manipulating Trump is not possible. It has nothing to do with my candidacy. I don’t even know if it’s good to have Trump stuck to my image,” Flávio said.
Eduardo issued a note of condolence after sanctions against Moraes were lifted. In a post on
The same evening, Moraes thanked President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) for the efforts made by the Planalto Palace to convince the White House to withdraw the sanctions.
There has been a flood of criticism of Trump from the Brazilian right, from activists to Bolsonian parliamentarians. The American was mostly called a “disappointment” and users flooded social media with complaints.
“He abandoned our president”, “the most powerful man in the world surrendered to the tyrant of Brazil”, “he forgave a dictator who plundered the people”, “sad day he was humiliated by an insect”, “Trump demoralizing Brazil and each of us patriots” and “the game is over for Brazil”, some comments say.
Flávio reaffirmed that he would not withdraw his candidacy and that the 2026 presidential elections “will have a Bolsonaro on the ballot.” And that he should be a more moderate version of what his father was as president – the senator said that communication was the main flaw of the Bolsonaro government (2019-2022).
“People will see a more centered Bolsonaro. They have always demanded a lot of that: ‘ah, Bolsonaro could speak less’. I don’t want to talk about an improved version, but I believe that (I have) a profile of more conversation, of seeking dialogue, of speaking to the left, I get along with everyone, I never take anyone’s CPF,” he said.
The senator refused to say which of the other right-wing presidential candidates he would support if he himself were not invited, including the governors of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), of Goiás, Ronaldo Caiado (União), of Paraná, Ratinho Júnior (PSD) and of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema (Novo).
“The only name that is mentioned is mine. You have to ask them if they would support me. Look what a good problem: there are many good names who will be united against the PT in 2026”, he said.
The senator also said that if he could choose, he would have a vice presidential candidate on his list because she would add more to his profile. The female electorate is among those that Bolsonaro has had the most difficulty winning over in the 2022 elections, alongside those in the Northeast and the poorest.
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