‘Tribal politics: If Trump can claim victory to MAGA base domestically that’s all that matters’

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Thursday that he will impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States if President Donald Trump follows through on a pledge to boost import taxes by 50% over the South American country’s criminal trial against his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. In Brazil’s case, Trump is trying to dictate the outcome of the criminal trial of Bolsonaro, an ally who like Trump has been charged with attempting to overturn a presidential election. Bolsonaro maintains that he is being politically persecuted by Brazil’s Supreme Court over his charges on the alleged plot to remain in power after his 2022 election loss to Lula. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24’s François Picard is pleased to welcome Jeremy Ghez, Associate Professor of Economics and International Affairs at HEC and Expert in American Politics.