Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 2nd August 2025, 6:33 PM
Protesters across several Brazilian cities set fire to effigies of former US President Donald Trump on Friday, expressing outrage over politically motivated trade tariffs imposed by the United States.
Protests Overview
| City | Nature of Protest | Attendance | Key Message |
| Brasilia | Effigy burning and rallies | Modest | Condemnation of Trump’s tariffs |
| São Paulo | Demonstrations | Modest | Denunciation of US political actions |
| Rio de Janeiro | Effigy burning and public gatherings | Modest | Protest against sanctions and tariffs |
The protests in Brasilia, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro symbolise deteriorating relations between two of the largest economies in the Americas.
Background: Trade Tariffs and Sanctions
The demonstrations reflect widespread anger at President Trump’s decision to impose a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian exports, alongside sanctions against a senior Brazilian judge.
Trump openly admitted that the tariffs were intended to punish Brazil for prosecuting his political ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro.
The Bolsonaro Trial and Political Context
| Event | Details |
| Bolsonaro’s Trial | Charged with plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election |
| January 2023 Congress Attack | Bolsonaro supporters stormed Brazil’s congress, ransacking chambers and attacking police, reminiscent of the US Capitol attack by Trump supporters in 2021 |
| Alleged Assassination Plot | Brazilian general testified that plotters planned to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and other officials |
Trump has dismissed Bolsonaro’s trial as a “witch hunt”. In retaliation, the US Treasury sanctioned Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
US Government Actions
On 6 August, a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian imports will come into effect, imposed via an executive order signed by Trump, citing Bolsonaro’s “politically motivated persecution.”
Justice Alexandre de Moraes Responds
In a rare public address on Friday, Justice Moraes vowed to persevere despite the US travel ban and asset freeze imposed on him.
He declared,
“This Court, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Federal Police will not bow to these threats.”
He further pledged that the court will remain
“absolutely uncompromising in defending national sovereignty and its commitment to democracy.”
Moraes’ Role and Controversies
Justice Moraes has been a staunch critic of the Brazilian far-right, Bolsonaro, and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk regarding online disinformation.
He is presiding over Bolsonaro’s coup trial, in which the former president faces a possible 40-year prison sentence.
Recent measures ordered by Moraes include:
International Reactions
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused Justice Moraes of
“serious human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention involving flagrant denials of fair trial guarantees and infringing on freedom of expression.”
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