Lula says chemistry with Trump at UN meeting raises hopes for Brazil-U.S. thaw

At the United Nations General Assembly, Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he was as surprised as U.S. President Donald Trump by the chemistry they felt when they bumped into each other after Lula's speech. He described the moment as very happy and optimistic about a possible Brazil-U.S. meeting soon and about moving past the bad feeling in relations. The Trump administration has slapped sanctions on judges and others and imposed 50% tariffs on many Brazilian exports over the arrest and conviction of Jair Bolsonaro, a former Brazilian ally who was sentenced this month to 27 years in prison for attempting a coup.

Lula said the encounter included an embrace and noticeable chemistry. He said they spoke for about 20 seconds and there was good chemistry, and that they agreed to meet next week to discuss a wide range of issues. He stressed that while there are many issues to discuss, Brazil's sovereignty and democracy and the work of its judges cannot be discussed. He noted the two countries have a 200-year history of diplomatic relations and emphasized that investments and trade are at stake, but the dialogue should yield a win-win agreement.

Trump told the assembly that Brazil is doing poorly and that the country can only do well when working with the United States, adding that without the United States they will fail. He said he had some difficulty explaining this to the assembly. Lula said Trump has been receiving incorrect information about Brazil, including the claim that the United States runs a trade deficit with Brazil; Lula noted that the United States has had a roughly $410 billion surplus with Brazil over the last 15 years.

Lula emphasized that the leaders he respects most are those elected by the people, regardless of ideology, and that there is no reason to play games. He said he would treat Trump with the respect due to the presidency, and he expected to be treated with the same respect by Trump. He highlighted the long bilateral history and the goal of a win-win outcome built on investments and trade.

Both presidents turn 80 this year, with Lula due in October and Trump in June 2026, and they said there is no reason to engage in games. The exchange at the UN provided a rare opening for dialogue on trade, sanctions, and the regional security agenda as both sides weigh how to handle tensions and political developments in Brazil.

Officials cautioned that progress would require sustained talks and that a reset remains uncertain, but the meeting at the United Nations demonstrated a pragmatic opening for high-level discussions on trade, sanctions, and the broader relationship between the two nations.