Trump Hosts Brazil’s Lula at White House After Tariffs, Sanctions Discussions

President Donald Trump hosted Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the White House to discuss trade and tariffs, with Reuters reporting the leaders’ meeting ended without the expected press remarks after Lula’s motorcade drove away.

NBC News said the Trump administration subjected Brazilian products to a 50% tariff last year and imposed sanctions against Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes over his handling of legal cases of Trump ally and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

Al Jazeera

PBS and AP reported that Brazil’s finance minister Dario Durigan said the goal of the meeting was to protect Brazil’s population, prioritize the country and maintain constructive dialogue.

The Independent reported that Lula arrived at the White House at 11 am for what was meant to be a photo-op with Trump, a closed-door meeting and a working lunch, but the Oval Office photo opportunity and press availability were pushed back and then canceled altogether.

Trump posted on Truth Social that the meeting “went very well” and discussed trade and tariffs, while The Independent said Lula later addressed reporters at the Brazilian embassy after about three hours at the White House.

Lula told reporters in Portuguese that he spoke with Trump about creating a transnational group to counter drug trafficking and organised crime, and he also said his country wants to share its critical rare earth minerals potential with any country that wants to invest in them.

Al Jazeera

The Independent quoted Lula saying, “It makes no sense for me to come here for a meeting, only to hold a press conference before we have even had our discussion,” as it described the decision for him and Trump not to speak to the press.

NBC News also tied the meeting to broader tensions, noting sanctions against Justice Alexandre de Moraes and the Trump administration’s actions tied to Jair Bolsonaro’s legal situation.

AP and PBS said the meeting followed a crisis in bilateral relations last year after the Trump administration imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods and tied the measure to the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro for his involvement in a coup plot.

“Brazil’s Lula to discuss fighting organized crime, tariffs in Trump meeting Brazil’s Lula to discuss fighting organized crime, tariffs in Trump meeting RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will discuss cooperation in the fight against organized crime and tariffs with U”

AP News

NBC News reported that Tennessee’s Republican-led Legislature passed a new congressional map dividing up the state’s lone majority-Black district, and it said Gov. Bill Lee is expected to sign the new map into law.

AP and PBS said an ongoing point of contention is the Trump administration’s reported consideration of designating Brazil’s largest criminal factions — Red Command, or CV, and the First Capital Command, or PCC — foreign terrorist organizations.

In the same reporting, AP and PBS said another key item likely on the agenda was access to Brazil’s rare earth deposits, with Durigan reiterating Brazil’s position that the nation does not want to be simply a raw material exporter and wants industrial development within Brazil.