Lula says he was surprised by 'chemistry' with Trump at the UN, hopeful for renewed talks

NEW YORK — 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 met by chance at the United Nations General Assembly, a moment he described as encouraging given deteriorating Brazil-U.S. relations. The Trump administration has slapped sanctions on judges and others and imposed 50% tariffs on many of Brazil’s exports in response to the arrest and conviction of Jair Bolsonaro, the former president who was sentenced this month to 27 years in prison for attempting a coup. Lula spoke at a news conference after the encounter and said the moment left him optimistic about the possibility of Brazil and the United States holding a meeting soon and moving past the “bad feeling” in bilateral ties.

The two leaders collided as Lula was leaving the assembly after delivering his address to world leaders, and Trump was walking toward the dais. “I saw him, he saw me, and we embraced,” Trump said in his speech. “We didn’t have much time to talk, like about 20 seconds. … We had a good talk, and we agreed to meet next week.” Lula described Trump as “looking very friendly, very pleasant, and I think that indeed there was some chemistry there.” He added that the moment showed there are opportunities to address multiple issues, with a focus on investments and trade, and that both sides should bring everything to the table.

Lula stressed that while there are many issues to discuss, Brazil’s sovereignty and democracy cannot be subjects of negotiation. He argued that the leaders he respects most are those elected by the people, regardless of ideology, and he asserted that Brazil’s judiciary and democratic institutions must be protected in any dialogue. The Brazilian president said he would negotiate with Trump in a way that yields a “win-win” outcome and noted that there is a long history—about 200 years—of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He said he would treat Trump with the respect he deserves as the U.S. president, and likewise expected respect for Brazil’s presidency and institutions. He also pushed back on the notion of a trade deficit with the United States, telling Trump that Brazil is not the sole beneficiary of a trade imbalance and that the two countries should be forthcoming about the true state of bilateral commerce.

Lula reiterated that discussions should be comprehensive, covering the full range of issues from investments to trade and political cooperation. He emphasized the importance of maintaining Brazil’s sovereignty and the independence of its judicial system, arguing that these principles cannot be compromised even in pursuit of economic gains. The Brazilian president said the engagement should be a sincere, problem-solving dialogue, not a platform for theatrics or hostilities. He stressed that the purpose of any future talks was to reach concrete, mutually beneficial arrangements that respect both nations’ institutions and democratic norms.

Trump, speaking to the General Assembly, separately asserted that Brazil’s economy would improve if the two nations work together, framing the relationship in stark terms: “Brazil is doing poorly,” he said, and “they can only do well when they're working with us.” He argued that without U.S. cooperation, Brazil would face challenges that others have also faced in the past. The comments underscored the central dynamic of the exchange—potential for a thaw in a relationship strained by sanctions, tariffs, and disputes surrounding Brazil’s judiciary and political climate.

Observers noted that a brief handshake or chance meeting at the United Nations, while notable, does not by itself change policy. Still, the episode provided Lula with an opening to press for a high-level meeting in the near term and to signal that Brazil is prepared to engage Washington on a broad agenda. With both leaders approaching milestone ages and a long shared history, Lula said there was a personal basis for constructive engagement and a shared interest in avoiding gamesmanship while pursuing practical, win-win outcomes for both countries.