Right-wing Brazilians wanted sanctions against the judge prosecuting Brazil’s former president. President Trump opted for something far bigger — tariffs.

Trump pledged to impose tariffs on Brazil at a rate as high as 50%. He accused the country of "attacks" on US tech companies and of conducting a "witch hunt" against the far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, a longstanding ally who is facing prosecution over his alleged role in a plot to overturn the 2022 Brazilian election.

Brazil’s foreign ministry has asked the highest representative of the US government in Brasilia to explain an embassy statement echoing President Donald Trump’s claims that former leader Jair Bolsonaro is facing political persecution,