US President Donald Trump has praised Flávio Bolsonaro after the Brazilian senator finished ahead of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the first round of Brazil’s presidential election, calling the result an “incredible” achievement ahead of the decisive October 25 runoff.
By Open Chronicle with agencies
US President Donald Trump has celebrated Flávio Bolsonaro’s first place finish in the opening round of Brazil’s presidential election, reinforcing his political affinity with the Brazilian senator as the country prepares for a closely contested runoff.
“It’s a great victory! Incredible, in fact,” Trump said Monday on X while commenting on Bolsonaro’s performance in Sunday’s vote.
Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, secured around 47 percent of the vote, according to the final results.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva finished with approximately 45 percent.
Neither candidate crossed the threshold of more than 50 percent of valid votes required to win the presidency in the first round, sending the election to a runoff on October 25.
Trump Praises Bolsonaro’s Performance
Trump’s intervention came after Bolsonaro exceeded expectations and emerged from the first round with a narrow advantage over the incumbent president.
The US president characterized the result as a major political success for the Brazilian senator.
His comments also highlight the relationship that has developed between Trump and the Bolsonaro family.
Trump has maintained close ties with the family of former President Jair Bolsonaro and met Flávio Bolsonaro at the White House in May while the senator was campaigning for the Brazilian presidency.
Flávio Bolsonaro has positioned himself as a political ally of Trump and has advocated closer relations between Brazil and the United States.
Bolsonaro Enters Runoff With Narrow Lead
The first round transformed Brazil’s presidential contest into a direct confrontation between Bolsonaro and Lula.
Bolsonaro’s approximately 47 percent placed him around two percentage points ahead of the president, but the result leaves neither candidate with a decisive advantage heading into the second round.
Both campaigns must now compete for voters who supported other presidential candidates in the opening ballot.
That could make the remaining weeks of the campaign particularly important as Bolsonaro attempts to preserve his first round momentum and Lula seeks to overturn the narrow deficit.
US Brazil Relations Enter the Campaign
Trump’s public reaction also adds an international dimension to Brazil’s runoff campaign.
The US president has previously supported Bolsonaro’s political camp and criticized Lula’s government over its policies towards the United States.
Flávio Bolsonaro, meanwhile, has presented closer relations with Washington as part of his political positioning.
The October 25 contest therefore takes place against a wider debate about Brazil’s international orientation as well as domestic questions surrounding the economy, security and political leadership.
Trump’s praise does not change the electoral arithmetic, but it reinforces the political connection between the US president and the Brazilian challenger at a crucial moment in the campaign.
Lula and Bolsonaro Begin the Second Round Battle
Lula and Bolsonaro are now entering a new phase of campaigning.
With only a narrow gap separating them, voters who backed eliminated candidates could become decisive.
Bolsonaro enters that contest strengthened by a first place finish that surpassed expectations and has now received public praise from one of his most prominent international political allies.
Lula, however, begins the runoff with roughly 45 percent of the electorate already behind him, leaving the incumbent within striking distance of reversing the first round result.
The outcome will ultimately depend on Brazilian voters when they return to the polls on October 25.
Until then, the contest between Lula and Bolsonaro is likely to remain under intense scrutiny both within Brazil and internationally.