Brazil Defies Trump, Arrests Bolsonaro Over Alleged Coup Plot

Brazil’s Supreme Court placed former President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest on Monday as he faces trial for allegedly plotting to overturn his 2022 election defeat. The move signals the judiciary’s firm stance despite mounting pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened steep tariffs on Brazilian goods in response.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, recently sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury, issued the arrest order, accusing Bolsonaro of violating restraining orders aimed at preventing him from seeking Trump’s interference in the case. Bolsonaro is charged with conspiring to violently subvert the election results that brought leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to power.

Trump has dismissed the trial as a “witch hunt” and announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, set to take effect Wednesday. The U.S. State Department condemned Bolsonaro’s arrest, alleging that Moraes was weaponizing Brazil’s institutions to suppress dissent. It vowed to hold accountable those supporting “sanctioned conduct,” hinting at further economic retaliation.

Moraes’ order bars Bolsonaro from using a cell phone or receiving visitors—except his legal team and court-approved individuals. Police enforced the arrest at Bolsonaro’s Brasília residence on Monday evening, confiscating his phone. His attorneys plan to appeal, denying any breach of judicial orders.

Political Repercussions and Backlash
The arrest has intensified tensions between Bolsonaro’s far-right base and Lula’s government. While Trump’s aggressive rhetoric has galvanized Bolsonaro’s supporters—evidenced by large protests on Sunday—some allies fear the U.S. president’s approach may backfire, bolstering Lula’s legitimacy.

Moraes defended his decision, stating Bolsonaro had repeatedly flouted court orders. “Justice is blind, but not foolish,” he wrote. Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the former president’s son, called the arrest “vengeance” for U.S. sanctions against Moraes, urging the Supreme Court to intervene.

The case stems from Bolsonaro’s alleged role in inciting the January 2023 riots in Brasília, mirroring the U.S. Capitol attack after Trump’s 2020 loss. Unlike Trump’s delayed legal consequences, Bolsonaro has faced swift judicial action, including an electoral ban until 2030.

U.S.-Brazil Relations at a Crossroads
Trump’s sanctions against Moraes cite claims of suppressing free speech and arbitrary detentions. Analysts warn Bolsonaro’s arrest could provoke further U.S. measures. “This will be seen as retaliation for the Magnitsky sanctions,” said political risk consultant Leonardo Barreto, referencing Moraes’ asset freeze.

Graziella Testa, a political science professor, noted Bolsonaro may be deliberately escalating tensions to rally support. His son, Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, has lobbied in Washington, claiming to influence Trump’s tariff decision. Following the arrest, Eduardo branded Moraes a “psychopath.”

In a recent letter to Bolsonaro, Trump denounced the trial as “unjust” and demanded its immediate end. With both legal and diplomatic battles intensifying, the fallout threatens to deepen divisions in Brazil and strain ties with the U.S.