British newspaper says that, unlike Washington, the beacons of world democracy today are Brazil and Canada, attacked by Trump
Donald Trump has been trying to attack Brazil since July 9th – the date he announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports and demanded the suspension of the criminal case against former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) for attempted coup. The FT says Trump is trying to be the “emperor of Brazil.”
Journalist Edward Luce claims that Trump’s decisions are not based on data and facts, but purely on what the US president “feels like.” Regarding his support for Bolsonaro, Luce says: “The parallel between Trump and Bolsonaro is unusual. The difference is that Bolsonaro is being held accountable.”
“The world pays attention to what the United States does, not what it says. But if there is a liberal-democratic beacon these days in Rubio’s [US Secretary of State] hemisphere, it comes from Brasília and Ottawa. For now, Washington is ruled out,” he added.
The Financial Times suggests that the US attacks on Brazil, Canada, and Australia are related to domestic political obstacles that Trump is trying to overcome. “Failing in the polls? Heading for electoral oblivion? Canada’s Mark Carney, Australia’s Anthony Albanese, and now Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have a solution for you. Make Donald Trump launch a trade war against your country,” the text reads.
Trump Supporters in Brazil
Federal deputies from the PL, Bolsonaro’s party, displayed a blue and white flag bearing Trump’s name in the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday (22). The flag bears the phrase “make America great again.”
The act took place during a hearing of the Public Security Committee, largely dominated by right-wing politicians. Moments before, the Speaker of the House, Hugo Motta (Republicans-PB), had prohibited committee meetings until the end of the recess on August 1, but the PL held the meeting anyway to vote on motions praising former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL).
The demonstration took place less than 24 hours after Bolsonaro’s visit to the Chamber of Deputies, for which he will have to justify himself to Justice Alexandre de Moraes of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), under threat of arrest. The Trump flag was raised by Representative Caveira (PL-BA), but his closest allies later recommended that he put it away.
In a press conference after the hearing, the chairman of the Public Security Committee, Representative Paulo Bilynskyj (PL-SP), was asked why Caveira had put the flag away. Bilynskyj responded that it was “not the right time” and that the “focus of the meeting” was elsewhere.
