Share and Follow
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is set to meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva this Thursday to discuss mutual interests in economic and security matters, as per a White House insider who spoke anonymously due to the meeting’s unconfirmed status.
The relationship between Lula, a prominent figure on the left, and Trump has experienced fluctuations ever since Trump’s return to the Oval Office last year.
President Trump has implemented hefty tariffs on Brazilian imports and questioned Brazilian officials over their legal actions against former President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces charges related to a coup attempt.
In July, the Trump administration increased tariffs on Brazilian goods to 40%, adding to an earlier 10% increase. Trump defended these measures, claiming that Brazil’s policies and the legal proceedings against Bolsonaro posed an economic threat.
Subsequently, Trump eased some of these tariffs on Brazil in a bid to help reduce living costs for American consumers.
Trump and Lula started mending fences at the United Nations’ General Assembly in September, which was followed by their first private meeting in Malaysia in October and subsequent phone conversations.
Bolsonaro was accused of masterminding a plot to stay in power despite his 2022 election loss to Lula — similar charges to what Trump faced after a mob of his supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol in 2021 to stop Democrat Joe Biden from taking the White House.
Last month, Lula came to the defense of Pope Leo XIV during a tense exchange of attacks between the pontiff and Trump over the war in Iran.
The 80-year-old Lula is running for reelection in October.
The Brazilian paper O Globo first reported the planned trip by the Brazilian leader.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.