Politics · Brazil · 2 hrs ago
Trump criticises Brazil election but says he will speak with Lula
US President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of Brazil’s election, calling it a disgrace and an embarrassment.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the presidential vote against right-wing rival Flávio Bolsonaro, according to the results described by both accounts.
Trump did not say directly whether he accepts Lula as the legitimate winner, though he said he plans to speak with him.
He said Lula had asked him not to take sides, and that he had complied.
Flávio Bolsonaro has claimed he is the rightful leader and went to the United States after the vote.
Brazilian markets fell after Lula’s win, a reaction Trump cited as evidence of the election’s impact.
Trump gave no date for a conversation with Lula, so when it might happen is not known.
US President Donald Trump said he plans to speak with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva but again criticised Brazil’s election.
Trump called the election a disgrace and declined to say whether he recognised Lula as its legitimate winner.
Lula won the runoff against Flávio Bolsonaro, who claimed victory despite his defeat.
Trump said Lula had asked him not to take sides and that he had complied.
Trump pointed to a negative reaction in Brazil’s financial markets after Lula’s victory.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump said he plans to speak with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
- What
- Trump criticised Brazil’s election and avoided saying whether he accepted Lula as its legitimate winner.
- When
- Thursday, October 29, 2026.
- Where
- Brazil; Trump made the comments to reporters while heading on a US midterms campaign trip.
- Why
- Trump said he considered the election a disgrace and pointed to the market reaction. He said Lula had asked him not to take sides.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Flávio Bolsonaro
Election result
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Lula won the presidential runoff against Bolsonaro.
Flávio Bolsonaro
Bolsonaro claimed victory and said he was the elected president.
Legitimacy
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Trump said Lula had won the election, but did not directly answer whether he accepted him as the legitimate winner.
Flávio Bolsonaro
Bolsonaro alleged electoral fraud and said the election had been stolen.
Trump described Brazil's election as very strange and said he would not get involved in Bolsonaro's claim to the presidency.
Flávio Bolsonaro arrived in the United States and claimed he was Brazil's rightful leader.
Trump said he planned to speak with Lula and again criticised Brazil's election.
- Election winner
- Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the runoff with 51.8 percent of the vote.
- Rival
- Flávio Bolsonaro claimed victory despite his defeat.
- Trump's plan
- He said he intended to speak with Lula but did not say when.
- Trump's stance
- He criticised the election and declined to say directly whether he accepted Lula as the legitimate winner.
- Market reaction
- On October 26, Brazil's Ibovespa fell 13.88% and the dollar rose 8.21%, closing at 5.40 reais.
3 sources
What people are saying
Vou conversar com ele, mas acho que a eleição foi uma vergonha no Brasil
I thought the election was a very great embarrassment to the people of Brazil.
I am the elected president, and the criminals who stole Brazil's election are part of a criminal organization that has established a tyranny