U.S. lawmakers accuse Trump administration of interfering in Brazil elections

A group of 31 Democratic U.S. lawmakers, including Bernie Sanders, has sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio accusing the Trump administration of attempting to interfere in Brazil’s upcoming elections.

The lawmakers allege a coordinated effort to exert diplomatic, economic, and political pressure on Brazil to influence the political landscape ahead of the October 2026 presidential election. They specifically cite the use of tariffs and sanctions as tools to influence Brazilian judicial processes, particularly regarding the legal situation of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

The letter also expresses concern over the appointment of Darren Beattie as a senior advisor at the State Department for Brazil-related affairs. The signatories described Beattie as a “right-wing extremist and white supremacist” whose previous statements suggest hostility toward Brazilian democratic institutions. They argue these actions threaten the strategic alliance between the United States and Brazil and undermine the sovereignty of the country’s democratic processes.