Trump's Silence on Lula's Win Signals Shift in Brazil-US Relations
Donald Trump has not publicly recognized Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's victory in Brazil's presidential election, breaking a White House tradition of over two decades. The silence contrasts with rapid recognition by other world leaders and may influence whether defeated candidate Flávio Bolsonaro contests the result. Lula won 51.79% of valid votes against Bolsonaro's 48.21%, with the result proclaimed by Brazil's electoral court on Sunday. Washington had quickly recognized Brazilian election winners in 2002, 2014, 2018, and 2022, and Trump personally called Bolsonaro in 2018. Experts suggest Trump's delay reflects political frustration after backing Bolsonaro, including designating Brazilian gangs as terrorist organizations. They expect eventual pragmatic recognition due to shared economic interests, though the silence signals a setback for Trump's regional alignment strategy.