US, Brazil to Arrange Trump-Lula Meeting, Officials Say

The talks mark the latest diplomatic engagement with Brazil after months of tension over what the U.S president called the ‘witch hunt’ against Jair Bolsonaro.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks to the United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York City on Sept. 23, 2025. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

U.S. and Brazilian government officials held trade talks on Oct. 16, during which they agreed to schedule a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The talks, attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, were described as “very positive” in a joint statement issued by the U.S. Department of State, which said discussions focused on trade and other bilateral issues.

Rubio, Greer, and Vieira agreed to hold further discussions in the immediate future and “both sides also agreed to work together to schedule a meeting between President Trump and President Lula at the earliest possible occasion,” the statement said.

Vieira told journalists in Washington, “This is an auspicious start to a negotiation process in which we will work to normalize and open new paths for bilateral relations.”

The talks mark the latest diplomatic engagement between the United States and Brazil after months of tension over the trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, which Trump called a “witch hunt“ by the Lula administration.

Trump’s Call With Lula

Trump said in an Oct. 6 post on Truth Social that he had a “very good telephone call” with Lula, during which they talked about trade and the economy.

“We will be having further discussions, and will get together in the not too distant future, both in Brazil and the United States,” Trump said. “I enjoyed the call—Our Countries will do very well together!”

The conversation followed a brief encounter between the two leaders at the United Nations in September.

“I met with President Lula and I found him to be very good,” Trump said on Oct. 6. “We met and we liked each other and we had a great conversation. Yeah, we'll start doing business.”

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at a military parade on Independence Day, in Brasilia, Brazil, on Sept. 7, 2024. Eraldo Peres/AP Photo

The remarks were in response to a journalist’s question on whether Trump was going to lower tariffs on U.S. imports from Brazil.

On July 30, Trump signed an executive order raising tariffs on Brazilian imports from 10 percent to 50 percent, with a White House fact sheet citing “recent policies, practices, and actions” by the South American country that posed “an unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security, foreign policy, and the economy.

The order also referenced the alleged political persecution of Bolsonaro.

Lula has defended the legal system of Brazil.

Bolsonaro’s Conviction, Sentencing

In September, Brazil’s Supreme Court panel sentenced Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison after convicting him of attempting to overthrow the government following his loss in the 2022 election.

Bolsonaro maintained his innocence throughout the trial and has said he is the target of political persecution.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro greets supporters during a meeting with motorcyclists at Capital Moto Week, held in Brasilia, Brazil, on July 29, 2025. Evaristo Sa/AFP via Getty Images

Rubio condemned the conviction, stating on X on Sept. 11, “The political persecutions by sanctioned human rights abuser [Supreme Court Justice] Alexandre de Moraes continue, as he and others on Brazil’s supreme court have unjustly ruled to imprison former President Jair Bolsonaro.”

In response, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry accused Rubio of attacking the country’s authority and said that its democracy will not be intimidated.

The ministry said that Rubio’s statement “ignores the facts and the compelling evidence on record” that led to Bolsonaro’s conviction.

“We will continue to defend the sovereignty of the country against aggressions and interference attempts, no matter where they come from,” the ministry said in a Sept. 12 post on X.

 Aldgra Fredly and Reuters contributed to this report.