Why is Brazilian president a strong critic of the US President?

The President of Brazil, in an unprecedented criticism of the U.S. President, said that he is not the emperor of the world.

According to Pars Today, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil, strongly criticized Donald Trump's policies in his remarks, emphasizing that while Trump may be the President of the United States, he is not the emperor of the world.

Referring to the 50% tariffs previously imposed by the U.S. President on Brazilian exports to the United States, including coffee and meat, da Silva described the move as entirely political and stated, "The American people will pay the price for Trump's mistakes regarding Brazil." He also noted that he had learned about the tariffs through Brazilian newspapers, adding, "Trump did not communicate in a civilized manner; instead, he only announced it on social media."

The Brazilian President announced a $5.5 billion credit plan to help the country's exporters cope with the 50% U.S. tariffs. The plan, named "Independent Brazil," provides $5.5 billion in credit along with tax breaks and insurance support for exporters. Da Silva also stated that this plan is the "first step" and promised that Brazil would not back down in response to Washington's actions, which he called baseless.

Emphasizing that he had never contacted Trump, the Brazilian President added, "I never tried to reach out to him because Trump never wanted to engage in dialogue."

Da Silva further noted that he was not the President of Brazil when Trump first won the election, stating, "Trump does not have a relationship with Brazil but with Jair Bolsonaro, the former President of our country." He dismissed Trump's claims about the lack of democracy in Brazil as baseless and pointed out, "If the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, had happened in Brazil, he would have been put on trial." Da Silva also referenced Bolsonaro's conviction and emphasized, "He and his friends wounded Brazil, attempted a coup, and even plotted to kill me."

The Brazilian President's strong criticism is the latest in the war of words between him and Trump. Lula da Silva is a serious critic of Trump for various reasons. His criticisms are both political and economic and also relate to Trump's behavior on social media. Below are the key reasons:

- Opposition to Trump's Economic Policies: Lula da Silva has criticized Trump's tariff policies, calling them obstacles to free trade and multilateralism. He believes these actions contradict the principles established after World War II for global peace and cooperation.

- Advocacy for Multilateralism and Global Order: Lula da Silva is a staunch supporter of multilateralism. He believes the world should be governed based on international cooperation and mutual respect and criticizes U.S. unilateral dominance. He has expressed concern about Trump's weakening of international institutions like the United Nations and disregard for global cooperation, stating that this trend threatens world peace. Da Silva calls for a return to diplomacy, dialogue, and international cooperation, viewing Trump's actions as contrary to this path. In contrast, Donald Trump has generally opposed international institutions like the UN and multilateral agreements such as the Paris Climate Accord, pursuing an "America First" foreign policy.

- Global Economy and Trade: Lula has criticized overreliance on the U.S. dollar and called for alternative systems for global trade. He strongly criticized Trump's tariffs against BRICS member countries, stating that "the world does not need an emperor." Meanwhile, Trump supports protectionist policies, imposing heavy tariffs on imports to boost U.S. domestic production, even at the cost of tensions with allies.

- Democracy and Sovereignty: Da Silva has repeatedly emphasized that Brazil's sovereignty and independence are non-negotiable. In response to Trump's threats about tariffs, he stated that Brazil would not be a pawn of U.S. policies. In contrast, Trump has attempted to influence Brazil's internal affairs, particularly regarding the case of Jair Bolsonaro, the former President of Brazil. Trump has repeatedly criticized Bolsonaro's trial and conviction and even threatened the Brazilian government with punitive measures. This approach by Trump is a clear example of interference in Brazil's internal affairs.

- Digital Space and Misinformation: Lula has called on digital platforms to be accountable for misinformation and hate speech. He believes that regulating the digital space is not censorship but protection for families. Criticizing Trump's online behavior, da Silva sarcastically remarked, "Be a President, not an influencer!" and urged Trump to focus on important global issues instead of spending time on the internet and social media. Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly criticized restrictions on his social media accounts, calling them a violation of free speech.