Lula victory in Brazil means more Trump tensions

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Brazil’s decision to reelect leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva over Flávio Bolsonaro marks a setback in President Donald Trump’s bid to elevate like-minded leaders across the globe. It also raises questions about the relationship between the two countries going forward.
Asked about future relations, one person close to the White House highlighted the tensions that already exist between the Trump administration and Brazil under Lula’s leadership.
“With [former Venezuelan leader Nicolás] Maduro in jail, Lula is now the administration’s top Latin American villain,” the person added.
The results stand out in a region that has recently elected several right-wing leaders with whom the Trump administration has sought closer ties.
After Bolsonaro, a Trump ally, said he would contest the results, Trump said “it looked like another rigged election.”

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