Brazil Supreme Court Defies Trump Pressure in Bolsonaro Coup Trial
By Global Leaders Insights Team | Sep 03, 2025
Brazil’s Supreme Court is pushing forward with the final chapter of former President Jair Bolsonaro’s trial, accusing him of trying to stage a coup to stay in power after losing the 2022 election.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who’s leading the case, made it clear that Brazil’s democracy won’t bend to outside pressure, especially from U.S. President Donald Trump. Moraes called out efforts to undermine the court, saying Brazil’s independence is non-negotiable. Bolsonaro, stuck under house arrest and too unwell to attend the trial, faces heavy charges like attempting to topple democracy and damaging public property.
These tie back to January 2023, when his supporters rioted, storming Congress, the Supreme Court, and the presidential palace—events that echoed the 2021 U.S. Capitol attack. A guilty verdict could mean over 40 years in prison, though Brazil’s laws often allow for shorter sentences.
- Brazil’s Supreme Court defies Trump pressure as Bolsonaro coup trial nears verdict
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- Trump slams Bolsonaro trial, but Brazil’s judiciary stands firm on democracy
Trump, a close friend of Bolsonaro, slammed the trial as a “witch hunt,” hitting Brazil with 50% tariffs on goods and pulling U.S. visas for most of the country’s Supreme Court justices. Bolsonaro’s son, Eduardo, now in the U.S., bragged about convincing Trump to step in, which has sparked a Brazilian investigation into both for meddling.
The trial, shown live on TV, has Brazil on edge, splitting opinions across the country. Bolsonaro’s supporters, like Senator Damares Alves, call it a political attack, pointing to his poor health after a 2018 stabbing. Others see it as a critical moment to protect Brazil’s democracy, which still carries scars from a dictatorship that ended in 1985. The five judges, led by Moraes, are expected to wrap up by September 12.
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Despite Trump’s sanctions, the court isn’t backing down. The case also targets top military figures, a bold move in Brazil. With protests looming, this trial could change the country’s political future and prove how strong its democracy really is.
