Home World Brazil's Bolsonaro ordered to wear ankle monitor ahead of trial

Brazil’s Bolsonaro ordered to wear ankle monitor ahead of trial

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks to the press at the Federal Senate in Brasilia on July 17, 2025.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks to the press at the Federal Senate in Brasilia on July 17, 2025. MATEUS BONOMI/AFP hide caption

toggle caption

MATEUS BONOMI/AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The ongoing feud between the U.S. and Brazil escalated on Friday after Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro—an ally of Donald Trump—to wear an electronic ankle monitor, citing him as a flight risk.

The court says Bolsonaro sought interference from the U.S. president to undermine the Brazilian judiciary—allegations that come amid growing tensions between the two countries.

Police raided Bolsonaro’s home and party headquarters early Friday morning, fitting the far-right leader with the tracking device. The court also imposed a nighttime and weekend curfew and barred him from contacting foreign diplomats, visiting embassies, or using social media.

Sponsor Message

Bolsonaro, who is facing charges of plotting a coup to remain in power after losing Brazil’s 2022 election, called the measures a “supreme humiliation.” Speaking outside a federal police station, he denied planning to flee and claimed that the $14,000 found in his home was legally obtained.

On Thursday night President Trump posted a letter on his Truth Social platform demanding the case be dropped. He has repeatedly threatened 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods if the prosecution continues. “I will be watching closely,” Trump wrote.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva fired back, calling Trump’s threats “blackmail” and vowing not to bow to foreign pressure.

“No gringo is going to give orders to this president,” Lula told a cheering crowd using the common Brazilian slang for foreigners.

Lula says Brazil is weighing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, including tech firms. The confrontation has helped revive his flagging popularity, as many Brazilians view Trump’s remarks as overreach.

“U.S. observers are underestimating the power of Brazilian nationalism,” said political scientist Oliver Stuenkel of FGV University. “There’s a strong response to what’s seen as aggressive interference by Trump.”

Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the Supreme Court judge who is overseeing Bolsonaro’s case, is increasingly a target of conservative U.S. figures for his crackdown on misinformation and social media platforms. Trump’s media company, Trump Media and Technology Group, has even filed suit against him in a Florida court, accusing him of violating free speech.

Sponsor Message

Meanwhile, Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo—currently in the U.S.—has been lobbying Trump to pressure Brazil’s institutions. In a statement posted on social media Eduardo called for Brazil to “act like a dignified democracy.”

But he’s now barred from speaking to his father. The court’s order prohibits Bolsonaro from contacting others facing charges, including his son, who also claims to be a victim of political persecution.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Must Read

Queen’s Classic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ finds a new voice in Zulu

Ndlovu Youth Choir - Bohemian Rhapsody Ndlovu Youth Choir/Ndlovu Youth Choir hide caption toggle caption Ndlovu Youth Choir/Ndlovu Youth Choir JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — The Ndlovu Youth Choir, which began in South Africa's rural Limpopo province and rose to international fame on America's Got Talent in 2019, has released a bold new project: a Zulu-language

3 dead after mob sets fire to Indonesian regional parliament building

Protesters walk by as the local parliament building is engulfed in flames during a protest following the death of a delivery rider in clashes between riot police and students protesting against lawmakers' allowances in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. Masyudi Firmansyah/AP hide caption toggle caption Masyudi Firmansyah/AP JAKARTA, Indonesia — An angry

Most of President Trump’s tariffs are illegal, U.S. court rules

President Trump announces his global tariffs at a Rose Garden event at the White House on April 2. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images An appeals court ruled that most of President Trump's tariffs are illegal — but held off on enforcing the decision until mid-October, given expectations that it will

The Effects of Melting Glaciers in Europe

Scientists use pink dye to measure the water flow rate coming off the Rhone glacier outside Zurich, Switzerland. Rob Schmitrz/NPR hide caption toggle caption Rob Schmitrz/NPR Europe is the world’s fastest warming continent with temperatures there increasing at twice the average global rate. That is melting Europe's glaciers, which may disappear by the end of

In a first, Kim Jong Un will attend a gathering of leaders with both Putin and Xi

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, Kim Jong Un speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone at an undisclosed location in North Korea, Aug. 12. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image and its content cannot be independently verified. Korean Central News Agency/Korea