Brazil's Bolsonaro Faces House Arrest, Straining Ties with U.S.

Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro was placed under house arrest on Monday, a move that’s stirred up tensions with the United States.

The Supreme Court’s decision, led by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, comes as Bolsonaro faces charges for allegedly trying to stage a coup after losing the 2022 election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

This has sparked a strong response from U.S. President Donald Trump, who called the case a “political attack” and slapped a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, set to start Wednesday.

Moraes, who’s been hit with U.S. sanctions, said Bolsonaro broke earlier court rules, including claims he reached out to Trump for help. The court took away his phone privileges and limited his visitors to just lawyers or approved people.

• Bolsonaro Placed Under House Arrest Amid Coup Charges, U.S. Slaps Brazil With Tariffs
• Trump Defends Bolsonaro, Imposes 50% Tariff on Brazilian Goods After Court Ruling
• Bolsonaro’s Arrest Sparks U.S.-Brazil Tensions, Trade War Looms Over Tariff Spat

Federal police grabbed his phone from his Brasilia home Monday evening. Bolsonaro’s son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, called it a “vendetta,” while his supporters rallied in Rio, waving American flags and praising Trump.

The U.S. State Department slammed Moraes, saying he’s hurting Brazil’s democracy. Trump’s tariffs, which skip big exports like orange juice and planes, are meant to pressure Brazil to drop the case. But some experts warn this could backfire, rallying support for Lula’s government as people worry about the economy.

The charges against Bolsonaro come from a two-year investigation into his role in a movement that rejected the 2022 election results, leading to the January 2023 Brasilia riots, much like the U.S. Capitol attack. He’s accused of running a “criminal group” and could face up to 43 years in prison if found guilty. He’s already barred from politics until 2030.

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Sunday’s protests, the largest in months, showed Bolsonaro’s supporters are still passionate, fueled partly by Trump’s words. Lula’s team, though, isn’t budging, with the president defending Brazil’s courts and pushing back against foreign interference. With tariffs coming, Brazil’s thinking about fighting back with its own trade moves, which could lead to a trade war with its second-biggest trading partner. This mess is exposing Brazil’s deep political rifts and putting U.S.-Brazil ties to the test.