Trump says he is following Brazil election closely as US suspends consular services

October 2, 2026 at 09:47 PM2 min

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President Donald Trump said on Thursday he is following Brazil's upcoming election "very closely," calling it "a very important election." The U.S. State Department later announced the suspension of consular services in Brazil ahead of Sunday's vote, citing unspecified security concerns. The move comes as Democratic lawmakers accuse the administration of interfering in the election.

Key Facts

President Trump said on Thursday he is following Brazil's election "very closely" and called it "a very important election."
The U.S. State Department suspended consular services in Brazil ahead of Sunday's election, citing unspecified security concerns.
An Oct. 25 runoff is expected as polls show a tight contest between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and far-right Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro.
Thirty House Democrats and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders signed a Sept. 24 letter accusing the administration of a "coordinated effort" to undermine Brazil's democracy.
Three Democratic senators sent a separate letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday expressing similar concerns about potential U.S. interference.

Trump's Comments

President Donald Trump told reporters outside the White House on Thursday that he is following the Brazilian election "very closely." He described Brazil as a "very important" country and said "the people of Brazil are fantastic people." Trump has previously referred to the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro as a "witch hunt."

Consular Suspension

The U.S. State Department announced the suspension of consular services in Brazil ahead of Sunday's election, citing unspecified security concerns. A security alert advised U.S. citizens seeking emergency assistance not to come to the Embassy, Consulates, or other U.S. diplomatic facilities. The suspension comes as Brazilians prepare to vote in federal elections spanning congressional, gubernatorial, and the first round of presidential races.

Democratic Lawmakers' Accusations

In a Sept. 24 letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, 30 House Democrats and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders expressed "grave concern" over what they called "the Administration's coordinated effort to threaten our strategic alliance with Brazil." The lawmakers said U.S. officials have engaged in a "sustained, multifaceted campaign of interference and destabilization in Brazil" during Trump's second term. Three Democratic senators sent another letter to Rubio on Monday, noting that tariff pressure escalated in July when the Trump Administration moved to impose a new 25% tariff on many imports from Brazil. Lula's office labeled the tariff decision a "lamentable milestone."