Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told reporters on Wednesday that he hoped he and US President Donald Trump would mend the relationship between the two countries if they meet in a few days, as they agreed to on Tuesday, during a conversation at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“I made a point of telling President Trump that we have a lot to talk about,” Lula said, though he declined to share more details about what would be offered in negotiations.
Trump imposed 50% tariffs on most Brazilian goods in July, sanctioned a Supreme Court judge, and took away the visas of several government officials in retaliation for what he called a “witch hunt” against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup to remain in power after he lost the 2022 elections.
But, after their seconds-long surprise meeting in New York on Tuesday, Trump invited Lula to a conversation the following week, arguing the two of them had “excellent chemistry,” which was “a good sign.”
Lula said he believed Trump’s decision to retaliate against Brazil stemmed from the “quality of information” he had about the country.
“I believe he is ill-informed about Brazil,” Lula said about Trump. “Possibly that’s what led him to make some unacceptable decisions,” Lula said.
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