How President Donald Trump's Administration is Reviving Brazil’s Former President Jair Bolsonaro

How President Donald Trump's Administration is Reviving Brazil’s Former President Jair Bolsonaro

Brazil's right-wing leader and former president Jair Bolsonaro was convicted of abuse of power after his supporters stormed the parliament on January 8, 2023, making him ineligible to run for office until 2030. However, with the return of U.S. President Donald Trump to power, Brazil's right-wing camp has become hopeful again and is preparing for next year's presidential election.

Since Trump’s victory, a new wave of optimism has emerged within Bolsonaro's camp, even though he has not yet received any public support from Washington. In January, a Brazilian delegation of 21 members traveled to Washington to attend Trump’s inauguration, including Eduardo Bolsonaro, the former president’s son, and Michelle Bolsonaro, the former first lady.

"The world is more Trumpist now, global right-wing movements are on the rise, and this creates a sense of inevitability. The Brazilian right wants to take advantage of this moment to strengthen its position," said Oliver Stuenkel, an associate professor of International Relations at Fundação Getulio Vargas in São Paulo.

Bolsonaro, nicknamed "the Trump of the Tropics," won the 2018 Brazilian presidential election, two years after Trump’s victory. His supporters are hoping for a similar outcome. The slogan "Milei 2023, Trump 2024, Bolsonaro 2026" is circulating on social media, expressing support for right-wing leaders, including Argentina’s Javier Milei.

However, Bolsonaro is currently ineligible to run for office for eight years after being convicted of abuse of power in 2023. Some of his supporters are hoping that Trump might be able to assist him.

"It's madness, a daydream," said Rodrigo Valadares, a member of the right-wing Union Brazil party and a friend of the former president. "There will be no direct intervention from the U.S. government, but this ideological alignment will benefit Bolsonaro."

Bolsonaro’s supporters are racing against time to challenge his ineligibility. Inspired by Trump’s pardons for the January 6 Capitol rioters, Valadares is pushing for an amnesty bill, which would pardon those convicted for the January 8, 2023, storming of the Brazilian parliament in Brasília.

Additionally, Bolsonaro’s camp is trying to control the narrative. On social media, they are amplifying accusations of "censorship" by Brazil’s judiciary.

Brazil's right-wing now has a powerful ally: Elon Musk, who is now a member of the Trump administration and a fierce critic of Judge Alexandre de Moraes. Musk has already supported far-right groups in Germany and it is expected that he will intervene in Brazil in 2026.

Brazilian right-wing politicians will once again attend the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington from February 19-22. Bolsonaro’s allies are hoping that he might be granted permission to attend the event, potentially lifting his travel ban.