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US accused of meddling in Brazil's 2026 presidential election

Brazilian officials and analysts allege Washington is using economic pressure to favor far-right candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, a charge the US State Department denies.

Updated Sep 1, 2026 · 13:21 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • Brazilian officials and analysts have accused US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio of seeking to influence Brazil's October 2026 presidential election.
  • The allegations claim the US is using 25% tariffs on Brazilian imports and terrorism designations against Brazilian crime groups to weaken leftwing incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in favor of far-right candidate Flávio Bolsonaro.
  • The US State Department rejected the claims, describing any insinuation of a plot to interfere in Brazil's election as a baseless lie.
  • Historians and observers are contrasting the current diplomatic tension with covert US interventions during Brazil's 1962 elections, which preceded a military coup in 1964.

Key facts

  • Brazil's October 2026 presidential election features a race between leftwing incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro.[The Guardian]
  • Recent US actions regarding Brazil include 25% tariffs on most Brazilian imports and the designation of the Red Command and First Command of the Capital as foreign terrorist organizations.[The Guardian]
  • Lula stated in July that Brazil denied entry visas to two Trump administration officials accused of intending to interfere in the election, after which Washington revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador to the US.[The Guardian]
  • The US State Department issued a denial, stating it respects the choice of the Brazilian electorate and that claims of an interference scheme are false.[The Guardian]

What remains uncertain

  • Whether US trade and diplomatic measures are intentionally intended to sway the Brazilian presidential vote, as claimed by critics, or serve unrelated foreign policy goals.[The Guardian]

Sources