Trump calls Lula 'volatile but intelligent,' says he 'couldn't care less'

U.S. President Donald Trump offered a mixed assessment of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, characterizing him as "very volatile, but very intelligent," while asserting that he "couldn't care less" about him. The comments came during an interview on The Axios Show, where Trump discussed various world leaders.

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very volatile, but very intelligent

"To be honest, I don't think about him. I really don't think about him. I couldn't care less," Trump stated regarding Lula. However, he acknowledged that leaders who reach the highest levels of their countries possess significant intelligence, adding, "He is very intelligent."

In the same interview, Trump lauded Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "great leader" and described Chinese President Xi Jinping as "strong and pragmatic." These remarks followed the G-7 summit in France, where both Trump and Lula were present and had spoken about each other.

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I don't think about him. I really don't think about him. I couldn't care less.

Trump also commented on the political situation in Brazil, calling it "a little complicated" and "a little dangerous politically." He appeared to confuse Eduardo Bolsonaro with his brother, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, suggesting "Bolsonaro Jr." was arrested for polling well, when Eduardo Bolsonaro was actually convicted by the Supreme Federal Court.

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You don't get to this level without being smart. He is very smart.

Lula, in response to Trump's comments, stated that the U.S. president "knows little about Brazil" and urged him not to interfere in Brazilian elections. "For me, he can continue to like Bolsonaro, the father, the son, the grandson, after all, one doesn't argue about taste. Just don't interfere in Brazil's elections, because Brazil's elections are Brazil's problem, just as the United States' elections are the United States' problem." Lula also suggested that the U.S. could learn from Brazil about conducting "calmer, lighter, and less turbulent" elections.

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a great leader