Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived in New York on Sunday to open the United Nations General Assembly’s high-level debate, marking the start of what is shaping up to be one of the most diplomatically charged UN gatherings in years. Rather than use the stage to promote cooperation with longtime ally the United States, Lula is reportedly preparing to directly challenge President Donald Trump’s agenda — deepening what observers are calling the worst U.S.-Brazil relations in over two centuries.
According to multiple Brazilian media outlets, no bilateral meeting between Trump and Lula is scheduled — a major break in diplomatic protocol between two of the Western Hemisphere’s largest democracies. The absence of such a meeting, noted Brazilian broadcaster Jovem Pan, is being interpreted by former diplomats as “humiliating” for Brazil.
A Visit Fueled by Provocation, Not Partnership
Lula — a self-declared socialist and convicted felon on corruption charges (later overturned by a politically aligned Supreme Court) — has aligned Brazil with U.S. adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran, and continued his persecution of domestic conservatives, most notably former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro, a close Trump ally, is now under house arrest, facing a 27-year prison sentence and banned from running for office until he turns 105. Brazilian courts have opened multiple additional investigations against him, including charges related to COVID-19 policy and even “recreational racism.”
In retaliation, President Trump in July issued an executive order declaring Brazil a “national security threat”, imposing a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, and sanctioning Alexandre de Moraes, the Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) judge spearheading Bolsonaro’s prosecutions.
Lula’s UN Agenda: Challenge Trump, Court the Left
According to Brazil’s O Globo, Lula will use his General Assembly speech to denounce economic sanctions and military threats, a thinly veiled swipe at Trump’s foreign policy. Though he is expected to avoid naming Trump directly, the tone of his speech will reportedly serve as a “script of counterpoints” to Trump’s political philosophy.
Planned talking points include:
- Condemning U.S. sanctions on Brazil and other nations.
- Advocating global climate spending in opposition to Trump’s America-first fiscal policies.
- Defending leftist regimes in Latin America and denouncing conservative populism.
- Pushing for global censorship to combat what Lula calls “extremism.”
In a separate high-profile event, Lula will co-chair a forum titled “In Defense of Democracy: Fighting Extremism”, pointedly excluding the United States and any nation that shifted to the right politically in the past year.
Among the invited guests are Gustavo Petro of Colombia, Gabriel Boric of Chile and Pedro Sánchez of Spain.
Lula Escalates Rhetoric Before Arriving
Lula made no attempt to soften tensions before landing in New York. In an interview with the BBC, he stated that he would have prosecuted Trump if the January 6, 2021 Capitol demonstration had occurred in Brazil.
“If President Trump had done here in Brazil what he did in the Capitol, he would also be judged because here there is justice for everyone,” Lula said.
He also accused Trump of “supporting anti-democratic people around the world,” without naming names or offering examples.
A Cold Welcome in New York
Protests broke out immediately upon Lula’s arrival in Manhattan. Brazilian expatriates and pro-Bolsonaro supporters, wearing Brazil’s yellow and green, shouted slogans like “Lula thief!” and “Terrorist!” as his motorcade passed. A smaller group of Workers’ Party supporters gathered across the street, waving the PT flag.
The hostility outside mirrors the growing dissatisfaction many Brazilians—especially in the diaspora—feel over Lula’s tightening grip on Brazil’s judiciary, media, and electoral system.
What Comes Next?
Traditionally, Brazil opens the UN General Assembly debate — a tradition dating back to 1955 — followed immediately by the United States. Trump is expected to deliver his address directly after Lula, raising anticipation for a rare moment of dueling global visions presented back-to-back.
While Lula promotes global climate mandates, censorship of dissent, and state-led economies, Trump is expected to reiterate his calls for national sovereignty, energy independence, and the defense of free speech.
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Time to dump the UN. If terrorist that now control south american countries are getting a ride in the UN it is time to realize it has failed it’s mission.
And I would like to hear the telecom mess has been tracked back to the instigators/builders of it.
And when is someone going to jail for all the hyper nasty comments to insite the lunatics. It is NOT the GOP but the dimwit nitwit party! Start the investigations, trial them, and throw there butts in jail! Big felony charges too!!!