President Trump will host Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the White House on Thursday for a working visit focused on economic and security issues, according to a White House official.
The official told The Hill that the two leaders are expected to discuss trade, regional security, and cooperation on law enforcement matters. Brazil’s Vice President Geraldo Alckmin also said Lula plans to raise a proposal aimed at strengthening joint efforts to combat organized crime, according to Reuters.
The meeting comes after years of tension between Trump and Lula, who sit on opposite ends of the political spectrum and have frequently clashed over trade and politics.
Their relationship became especially strained last year when Trump imposed a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian imports, citing concerns over the prosecution of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a close Trump ally. Bolsonaro, often described as the “Trump of Brazil,” maintained a strong relationship with Trump during both leaders’ time in office and has repeatedly claimed Lula’s government is targeting him politically.
Lula sharply criticized Trump’s tariffs in a September opinion piece published by The New York Times, calling the measures “illogical” and economically harmful. The Brazilian leader has also accused Trump of interfering in Brazil’s domestic affairs through his outspoken support for Bolsonaro.
Despite the tensions, both governments have recently taken steps to stabilize relations. Trump met face-to-face with Lula in Malaysia last October during a broader trip to Asia, following what officials described as a “positive” phone call earlier that month.
In November, the Trump administration rolled back tariffs on several Brazilian food imports, including coffee and beef, in an effort to lower grocery costs for American consumers amid ongoing inflation concerns.
Thursday’s White House meeting is expected to test whether the two leaders can move past years of political friction and find common ground on trade, security, and regional stability.
