Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, has been pressing US officials to sanction a Supreme Court judge. The judge is overseeing a case linked to an alleged coup attempt following Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s 2022 presidential win. US President Donald Trump has supported the Bolsonaro camp and threatened steep tariffs on Brazilian exports. Brazil’s Supreme Court president has accused Eduardo of inciting “hostile acts” against the country.
Known as “Number 3” by his father, Eduardo Bolsonaro has been living in the United States since February. He is under investigation in Brazil for allegedly interfering in the case involving his father.
Tensions rise over coup inquiry
Eduardo has held meetings with White House officials and lobbied for sanctions against Supreme Court President Alexandre de Moraes. Moraes is leading the investigation into Bolsonaro’s alleged attempt to overturn the 2022 election results.
Moraes is also known for suspending Elon Musk’s social platform X in Brazil. The ban came after the platform failed to follow court orders related to election misinformation.
Donald Trump has taken a strong stance in Bolsonaro’s favour. He sent a letter asking President Lula to drop charges against Bolsonaro. Later, Trump warned of a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, calling the prosecution a “witch hunt.”
In response, Brazil’s Supreme Court took action against Jair Bolsonaro. The court issued search warrants, banned him from contacting foreign officials, and ordered him to wear an ankle monitor. Police raided his home and seized documents.
The court also prohibited him from using social media or visiting embassies. Moraes defended the measures, citing a “concrete possibility” that Bolsonaro might try to flee the country.
US response sparks political shift in Brazil
The US government responded by restricting visas for Moraes and his allies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the court’s actions, calling them politically motivated.
Nicolas Saldias, an analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit, said Trump’s threats may benefit Lula. Lula has begun wearing a cap that reads “Brazil belongs to the Brazilians,” a move seen as appealing to national pride.
Saldias suggested Lula could now be viewed as a defender of Brazilian sovereignty. Trump’s involvement may help Lula position himself as a champion of progressive nationalism.
Jair Bolsonaro, seeking to maintain public support, said he and his son opposed the idea of tariffs. In an interview with Poder 360, he criticised Lula for escalating tensions with the US but admitted he was limited in what he could do.
“I don’t even have a passport,” he remarked.
Eduardo’s continued role as political envoy
Despite his father’s travel restrictions, Eduardo Bolsonaro continues to act on his behalf. A federal deputy for São Paulo since 2015, Eduardo has taken an active international role.
In a video filmed outside the White House, he said he had just finished meetings with US officials. He hinted that sanctions on Moraes were being considered.
Paulo Figueiredo, a far-right influencer also under investigation, claimed he had similar talks. He said Brazil was now a “priority” for the US administration.
Eduardo has long served as an unofficial spokesperson for Brazil’s far-right. Fluent in English, he became the family’s international representative during Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency.
Links to the US far right
His political ties began with Olavo de Carvalho, a far-right Brazilian ideologue based in the US. Eduardo later aligned with Carvalho’s disciple Filipe Martins, who advised Bolsonaro and had links to white nationalist groups.
Eduardo also developed a relationship with Steve Bannon, former advisor to Donald Trump. He helped introduce Bannon-style populism into Brazilian politics.
In a 2019 interview, Eduardo defended Bannon against accusations of racism and extremism. He said such labels were often used to discredit conservatives.
That same year, Jair Bolsonaro tried to appoint Eduardo as ambassador to Washington. Eduardo lobbied senators for support but faced strong resistance. He later withdrew his nomination.
In a speech to Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, Eduardo explained his decision to remain in Brazil. He said he wanted to defend conservative values and back his father’s government.
“I’m staying to ensure the tsunami of the 2018 election becomes a permanent wave,” he said.
