How U.S. Officials Tried to Help Brazil’s Bolsonaro Family Return to Power

In the months leading up to Brazil’s tense presidential runoff on October 25, new reports have revealed a behind-the-scenes effort by U.S. State Department officials to influence the country’s political future. According to an investigation by Reuters published on October 24, two senior American diplomats pushed policies aiming to boost the Bolsonaro political family, who have strong right-wing views.

The two officials, Darren Beattie and Ricardo Pita, reportedly worked from Washington with a clear goal: to help restore Jair Bolsonaro or his family members to power. Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s former president, lost the 2022 election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and was later convicted in 2025 for attempting a coup. After Bolsonaro’s conviction and a 27-year sentence, the focus shifted to supporting his son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who is now running for president.

Sources familiar with the situation say Beattie and Pita instructed U.S. diplomats in Brazil to back the Bolsonaro family and avoid other conservative candidates who might challenge Flávio Bolsonaro. They also helped push sanctions and tariffs designed to hurt Lula’s government and strengthen Bolsonaro’s side. For example, in July 2025, the U.S. imposed a 40% tariff on many Brazilian goods, citing Brazil’s treatment of Jair Bolsonaro and claiming threats to U.S. national security.

One of the most controversial moves was sanctioning Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The U.S. Treasury Department accused him of suppressing free speech by censoring political posts on social media and jailing critics. These sanctions came in July 2025 but were lifted in December 2025, with no clear explanation.

Another key action was the U.S. designation of Brazil’s two largest criminal gangs, Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV), as terrorist organisations in May 2026. This designation was pushed by Bolsonaro allies, including Flávio Bolsonaro, who met with U.S. officials shortly before the announcement. The move was seen as politically motivated to weaken Lula’s support, who critics say has struggled to control crime.

Despite these efforts, analysts say some of the U.S. actions may have backfired. The tariffs reportedly boosted Lula’s popularity, and the judicial sanctions did not stop Bolsonaro’s prosecution. Lula used these U.S. measures to argue that Brazil’s sovereignty was under threat, rallying nationalist sentiment in his campaign.

While former President Donald Trump has publicly supported Jair Bolsonaro since his 2022 defeat, he did not openly endorse Flávio Bolsonaro in the 2026 election. Trump called Flávio’s first-round results a “very big victory” but stayed mostly silent otherwise.

This episode highlights the complex and sensitive role the U.S. plays in Latin American politics. The State Department said its actions aimed to protect free speech and U.S. interests, denying political interference. However, Lula and his allies accused Washington of meddling in Brazil’s democracy.

The runoff election between Flávio Bolsonaro and Lula is expected to be close, with both candidates holding strong support. The impact of U.S. involvement remains a subject of debate, but it has certainly added a new layer to Brazil’s already heated political climate.