Brazil's Supreme Court Spares Bolsonaro Arrest, Issues Stern Warning
By Global Leaders Insights Team | Jul 25, 2025
Brazil’s Supreme Court, led by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, decided on Thursday not to throw former President Jair Bolsonaro behind bars for a minor violation of court orders.
But the court didn’t let him off easy, warning that any more slip-ups could mean prison, according to a court statement.
Bolsonaro is in hot water, on trial for allegedly trying to pull off a coup to stop President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office in January 2023.
Last week, Moraes slapped him with an ankle monitor and banned him from social media after claims he reached out to U.S. President Donald Trump for support. Trump fired back, hitting Brazil with 50% tariffs on imports and visa restrictions on Moraes and other court officials, calling the trial a “sham.”
- Brazil’s Supreme Court Warns Bolsonaro Over Court Breach, Keeps Ankle Monitor Order
- Bolsonaro Dodges Arrest in Coup Trial as Trump Slams Brazil With Tariffs
- Brazil-U.S. Tensions Rise as Court Pressures Bolsonaro in Coup Plot Case
The drama kicked off when Bolsonaro chatted with reporters in Brasilia, flashing his ankle monitor and calling the restrictions “spineless.” His son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, and supporters shared clips of this online, which led Moraes to demand answers within 24 hours. On Tuesday, Bolsonaro’s lawyers argued he didn’t break the social media ban and asked for clearer rules. Moraes’ Thursday ruling kept the restrictions in place but said it’s fine for Bolsonaro to talk to the press.
This comes as tensions flare between Brazil and the U.S., with Lula slamming Trump’s actions as “out of line” and disrespectful to Brazil’s courts. Bolsonaro, who insists he’s innocent of the coup charges, remains a lightning rod in Brazilian politics. By not locking him up now, the court avoids fueling more chaos but keeps the pressure on.
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Experts believe the court wants to wrap up the trial before the 2026 election, where Bolsonaro plans to run, despite being barred from office until 2030. This decision shows the court walking a tightrope in Brazil’s heated political scene.
