U.S. President Donald Trump extended an open line of communication to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Friday, saying Lula is welcome to call him “anytime” to discuss rising tensions over tariffs and U.S. sanctions.
“He can talk to me anytime he wants,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “I like the people of Brazil, but the people running Brazil did the wrong thing.”
Trump’s remarks come just days before a controversial 50% tariff on Brazilian exports is set to take effect, a move his administration claims is aimed at countering what he calls a “witch hunt” against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro, a Trump ally, is currently on trial for allegedly plotting a coup following his 2022 election defeat.
The U.S. has also imposed sanctions on a Brazilian Supreme Court justice overseeing Bolsonaro’s case, further straining relations between the two nations. President Lula has strongly rejected both the tariffs and sanctions, calling them “unjustifiable” and a violation of Brazil’s sovereignty.
In Brasília, Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad welcomed Trump’s comments, calling them “great” and saying he believes Lula would be open to communication with the U.S. president. “I’m sure President Lula feels the same and would be willing to receive a call,” Haddad said.
Lula later posted on social media that Brazil has “always been open to dialogue,” though he made no direct mention of Trump or his invitation.
Haddad also confirmed a virtual meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent next week to lay the groundwork for a possible Lula-Trump summit. However, he cautioned that such a meeting would require careful preparation.
Earlier this week, Haddad said Brazil needed guarantees that Lula would not be treated the same way as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was harshly criticized by Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance during a tense White House exchange earlier this year.
The developments underscore a deepening diplomatic rift between two of the Americas’ largest democracies, with broader implications for trade, justice, and international alliances.
Written By Rodney Mbua
