Elections & Democracy
Lula says he will tell Trump to stay out of Brazil vote
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he will tell US President Donald Trump “not to meddle in Brazil's elections” if they cross paths during next week's United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Lula, who is seeking reelection in Brazil's October 4 vote, is scheduled to address the annual global leadership meeting on Tuesday. Trump is an ally of Lula's right-wing rival, Flavio Bolsonaro.
“I'm going to the UN meeting to have a conversation with Trump and tell him: don't meddle in the elections in Brazil,” Lula said during a campaign stop in Ceilandia, a working-class neighborhood in Brasilia.
Brazilian foreign ministry official Carlos Bicalho Cozendey said no specific bilateral meeting is planned, but that Lula and Trump “will probably cross paths at the Assembly,” as they did last year.
The United States imposed two fresh rounds of tariffs on Brazilian products in July. Lula has denounced the tariffs as an attempt to influence the election through economic pressure.
Tensions with the Trump administration began in 2025, when Washington imposed its first wave of tariffs against Brazil in retaliation over the trial of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, Flavio Bolsonaro's father. Jair Bolsonaro was convicted of attempting a coup d'etat.
Update
Brazilian foreign ministry official Carlos Bicalho Cozendey said no specific bilateral meeting is planned between Lula and Trump, though they will probably cross paths at the UN General Assembly.
Lula made the comments during a campaign stop in Ceilandia, in Brasilia.
The United States imposed two fresh rounds of tariffs on Brazilian products in July, which Lula described as an attempt to influence Brazil's elections through economic pressure.
Tensions with the Trump administration began in 2025 after Washington imposed tariffs over the trial of former president Jair Bolsonaro, according to the supplied account.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 September 2026 at 02:13:45 UTC.
Update
Lula is slated to speak Tuesday at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Lula could run into US President Donald Trump at the UN meeting.
Trump is described as an ally of Lula's October election rival, right-wing candidate Flavio Bolsonaro.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 September 2026 at 01:47:45 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
No specific Lula-Trump bilateral meeting is planned, so any direct conversation at the UN remains uncertain.
Source
AFP news report published on .