Lula Calls Marco Rubio an Enemy of Latin America
Lula called US Secretary of State Marco Rubio an “enemy of Latin America” and criticized Bolsonaro allies for supporting US pressure measures against Brazil.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addresses a public event in Goiás, where he commented on US trade measures and relations between Washington and Latin America. Photo: public event on trade and foreign policy. Photo: Prensa Latina
June 3, 2026 Hour: 1:26 am
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Brazilian president criticizes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and accuses Bolsonaro allies of backing foreign pressure on Brazil.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva described U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “an enemy of Latin America” on Tuesday, following renewed tariff threats from Washington. He also accused allies of former President Jair Bolsonaro of supporting foreign interference in Brazil by backing U.S. pressure measures against the country.
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Speaking at a public event in the state of Goiás, Lula said he had conveyed his objections to U.S. policies directly to President Donald Trump during a three-hour meeting.
“He is anti-Latin America. He is a mortal enemy of Cuba and several other Latin American countries,” Lula said.
Text Reads: 🇧🇷🗣 Lula Claims to Have Warned Trump About Marco Rubio’s Stance on Brazil: ‘He’s Anti-Latin America’ ❗️ President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (@LulaOficial) criticized U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday (2) and stated that he had addressed the matter directly with the American president, Donald Trump. 🔊 Lula said he considers Rubio contrary to the interests of Latin America and stated that he had informed Trump that the secretary would not have a favorable stance toward Brazil. The Brazilian leader also emphasized that Rubio did not participate in the meeting held between the two heads of state in early May, on U.S. soil.
The remarks came after Rubio’s statements before the U.S. Senate, where he excluded Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba from a list of hemispheric allies. Rubio also supported a proposal by the Office of the United States Trade Representative to impose additional tariffs of 25 percent on Brazilian exports.
Lula said his government would defend Brazil’s economy against pressure from Washington through what he described as a commitment to truth in diplomacy. He also accused the United States of using security allegations and terrorist designations against criminal groups to expand its economic and military influence in Latin America amid growing competition with China.
“As I do not have ships to wage Trump’s wars, nuclear bombs or military power, my war is that of truth against lies, against narratives,” he said.
The Brazilian president also condemned members of the Bolsonaro family for publicly supporting U.S. measures against Brazil, calling their actions a betrayal of national interests.
“They are traitors to the homeland. They went and asked a foreign country to interfere in Brazilian decisions,” Lula said.
He pointed to Senator Flávio Bolsonaro’s public support for trade restrictions imposed by Donald Trump last year and also criticized former congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro for backing economic pressure against Brazil.
Text Reads: The Brazilian government expresses its indignation at the preliminary conclusion announced yesterday (June 1st) by the USTR regarding the Section 301 investigation into alleged unfair trade practices by Brazil. / This investigation began on July 15, 2025, at the instigation of the Bolsonaro family and is associated with attempts to interfere in our country’s internal affairs, as demonstrated by Senator Flávio Bolsonaro’s recent trip to Washington. These actions have been aided by false patriots who use public office and functions to conspire against national interests. / It is regrettable that all the work of dialogue and coordination that the Brazilian government has undertaken, including the personal involvement of Presidents Lula and Trump, is being sabotaged by purely electoral and family interests.
According to Lula, requests for foreign intervention do not weaken the government but instead harm Brazilian workers, businesses and the country’s agribusiness sector.
The dispute highlights growing tensions between Brasília and Washington over trade policy and regional relations, while reflecting ongoing political divisions inside Brazil over the country’s international positioning.
Author: MK
Source: Sputnik Brasil / Agencies
