Monday’s announcement by Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador was short and succinct, but it drew support from all countries behind Lula.
“We stand with Brazil as it defends its democratic institutions. Our governments support the free will of the Brazilian people. We look forward to working with President Lula to work for our countries, the Western Hemisphere, and beyond.” ,” the three leaders said.
Several Democratic lawmakers have spoken out against the Brazil strikes since Sunday, while Republicans, perhaps concerned about avoiding Trump’s wrath, have been largely silent since Monday morning.
Rep. Joaquin CastroA Democrat from Texas was among the lawmakers who said the United States should expel Bolsonaro from Florida and return him to Brazil, where the former president is under investigation on multiple allegations.
Castro said on Twitter: “Bolsonaro should be sheltered in Florida, where he is hiding from the responsibility of his crimes.”
The State Department declined to comment on the type of visa the former Brazilian leader used to enter the United States, saying such records are confidential. But the United States generally has a wide range of rules for visa waivers.
Since losing office, Bolsonaro has sent mixed signals about his views on what his supporters should do to back up his claims of a rigged election. It is unclear what exactly led to Sunday’s attacks.
But the former president on Sunday issued a pointed tweet that also rattled his political foes: “Peaceful protests, in the form of law, are part of democracy. However, the looting and occupation of public buildings that occurred today and every Such things that were done by the left in 2013 and 2017 are running away from power.”
Bolsonaro’s son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, has close ties to conservative figures in the United States such as Trump allies Steve Bannon and Jason Miller and has been in contact with them since the October presidential election.
In his “War Room” podcast on Monday, Bannon claimed that the Bolsonaros were not involved in the unrest in Brazil, and he scoffed at claims that he himself had organized the attacks. But he supported the efforts of the protesters.
On Sunday, Bannon called the protesters “Brazilian freedom fighters”. And he continued to allege corruption and fraud in Brazil’s elections, calling on Lula on Monday to “turn on the machines.”
Meredith McGraw contributed to this report.
