Lula tells Trump: 'Don't meddle in Brazil's elections'

"Brazil's elections are Brazil's problem. Just as American elections are his problem. It is not my problem." This statement by President Lula at a press conference in the Brazilian embassy in Geneva on Wednesday encapsulates his stance on Donald Trump's remarks: Brazil decides its own affairs, negotiates as an equal, and does not automatically align with any power.

Lula directly addressed Trump's comments, which he described as "insolent" towards Brazil, stating, "Don't meddle in Brazil's elections." He added, "I only hope he does not violate the code of ethics among nations that want to be respected," defending that Trump should not interfere in Brazilian politics.

Regarding the lack of a bilateral meeting with Trump at the G7 summit, Lula explained that he did not request one because negotiations are ongoing between Brazilian and American officials on trade tariffs. He personally handed Trump four documents during the summit: one on combating organized crime, highlighting the Federal Police's capabilities; one on rare earths and critical minerals; one on bilateral trade; and a copy of the 2010 agreement Brazil, Turkey, and Iran negotiated on Iran's nuclear program.

Lula also used the encounter to publicly counter the US government's recent classification of the PCC and Comando Vermelho as terrorist organizations. "I was surprised when last week I received the news of the punishment, including classifying criminal factions as terrorists," he said. "I told them, these criminal actions are terrorist for the Brazilian people, for the people in the communities in Brazil. They are not terrorists as you think; they don't want to fight and defeat the state, they don't want to create another state, they want money."