Trump Questions Brazil Election Integrity but Praises Lula
Former US President Donald Trump questioned the integrity of Brazil's presidential election, calling it "very corrupt and bad," while stating he loves Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and has a "very good" relationship with him. Trump criticized the two-hour extension of voting as "very strange," without providing evidence of fraud. His remarks followed Brazil's electoral court declaring Lula the winner with 51.79% of votes, defeating Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, who refused to accept the result and plans to challenge it in court. The voting extension was ordered by a judge due to heavy rain and public transport issues, though some polling stations had already closed. Brazilian electoral authorities affirmed the vote count was sound, while Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Lula on his victory.