President Donald Trump claimed that Brazil’s presidential election, which was won by leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, appeared to be “rigged,” though he did not provide any evidence for the claim. “It looked like another rigged election, frankly,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. “I didn’t take sides, but it was a terrible look for the world. Elections have to be indisputable, and it looked really bad to me.”
Lula defeated conservative Flávio Bolsonaro by more than 4 million votes. The historic win, securing a fourth term in office, was a loss for Trump and his movement. The president never explicitly endorsed a candidate, but he had at times embraced the right-wing challenger, as the larger MAGA movement had. When asked if he would “do something about the election,” the president responded, “I am not running Brazil, I’m running the USA.” He added that “I like Lula,” but it was a “bad look.”
Trump has also publicly promoted Flávio Bolsonaro’s father, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Meanwhile, Trump offered $1 million on Monday to anyone whose tips about voter fraud lead to convictions. “Anybody reporting Voter Fraud in the past Elections, or the upcoming 2026 Midterm Election, will be paid $1,000,000 upon the arrest and conviction of those that created the Fraud!” Trump wrote in a social media post shortly before departing the White House for a pre-midterms rally in Mississippi.
This isn’t over for Bolsonaro, at least
About the $1 million offer, Trump explained, “We’re going to be issuing a million-dollar bonus or reward or whatever you want to call it for anybody that reports voter fraud leading to the arrest and conviction of somebody. We give you, that person, a million dollars,” he added under the wing of Air Force One.
Lula’s victory manifested the limitations of the Trump administration’s influence in Brazil, particularly its attempts to steer Latin American politics to the right. The Brazilian leftist leader not only challenged Trump on issues like tariffs, but also framed Sunday’s vote as essential for protecting Brazil’s democracy and its right to make independent decisions. This independence could result in even closer ties with China if relations with Washington continue to decline.
Meanwhile, Bolsonaro has not yet formally conceded. In a post-election speech, he called the election results “unacceptable”, citing a last-minute extension to voting hours. “We will take legal action,” he told supporters. “I will request that these elections be annulled.”
In a video posted on social media on Monday, Bolsonaro said federal police had asked him to hand over his passports amid speculation that he might leave the country after his election loss. He stated that he would comply with the order and emphasized that he had no intention of leaving Brazil.
Published: Oct 28, 2026 09:30 am