Donald Trump is urging Brazilians to vote for outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro, who is fighting to keep his job against former two-term President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The ex-American president developed a kinship with Bolsonaro while he was in office. Moreover, the two men share a lot in terms of style and ideas.
The Brazilian politician even labeled himself “Tropical Trump” as he rose in status in 2018.
Bolsonaro is a right-wing populist who is trailing his leftist opponent in the polls. However, in the surveys leading to Sunday’s runoff, his numbers were improving.
Nonetheless, Lula, a man, who brought a lot of people out of poverty during his time as president (2003 – 2011), is the slight favorite in the race.
Trump is using his star power to help change the political fortunes of his friend. Bolsonaro can also count on the backing of Brazilian soccer superstar Neymar Jr. who plays for Paris Saint-Germain in France.
On Sunday, Mr. Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social and wrote: “To the People of Brazil, this is your big day, and also, a big day for the World. Your GREAT and Highly Respected President, Jair Bolsonaro, needs you to get out and Vote TODAY, so that your Country can continue on its incredible path of success,’ the former US president went on. Don’t let the Radical Left Lunatics & Maniacs destroy Brazil like they have so many other countries. President Bolsonaro has done a fantastic job, has my Complete and Total Endorsement, and deserves your VOTE. He will NEVER let you down!!!”
Like Trump, Bolsonaro has a tense relationship with the media while using them to get his message to supporters. As a climate skeptic, his first term in office saw a lot of deforestation.
Some activists say that the damage he has caused to the environment might be irreversible. His position on climate change is one of the reasons why President Joe Biden and his administration are rooting for a Lula victory.
Mr. Bolsonaro is also an avid critic of the electoral process. He has suggested on many occasions that he may not accept the election result.
Critics say that the outgoing president mishandled the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was against most of the measures adopted in other countries to fight the virus. The country has lost close to 700,000 people because of the coronavirus.
He has promised to increase the minimum wage, promote lax gun control laws, and adopt business-friendly tax policies.
Lula will focus on the environment, education, and workers’ rights if he gets his old job back. The former president would have been on better footing if his party did not face a few major corruption scandals in recent years.
Trump is probably hoping that a Bolsonaro win could be a positive sign for his rumored 2024 presidential run.
