Lula avoids reaching out to Trump, calls Flávio Bolsonaro a closed chapter

Brazilian President Lula has told aides he will not proactively contact U.S. President Donald Trump, either to explain Brazil's electoral process or to request recognition of the election results, according to government sources. Government officials say any diplomatic gesture matters, and seeking out Trump could signal "government fragility." The assessment is that Lula emerged stronger from the election and does not depend on U.S. approval to govern, though Trump said Thursday he would speak with Lula and the White House has not yet contacted Brazil's foreign ministry. Lula will accept a conversation with Trump but will not raise the flight of Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, which officials call a "closed chapter." The government's directive is to ignore Flávio, who has not recognized the October 25 election results, despite The New York Times reporting he received help from Trump administration members to flee Brazil.