President Donald Trump said Saturday he had no prior knowledge of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's arrest, offering brief remarks as he departed the White House while reporters and foreign correspondents tracked fast-moving developments in Brazil and responses circulating online.
Trump fielded a pair of questions on Bolsonaro's arrest during a brief press gaggle before boarding Marine One on Saturday. The exchange added new uncertainty to Washington's understanding of Brazil's political trajectory and raised additional interest after an international correspondent posted about the moment on X.
A reporter first asked Trump, "Do you have any comment on Jair Bolsonaro, the former President of Brazil's arrest?" Trump responded, "So I spoke last night to the gentleman you just referred to, and we're going to be meeting, I believe, in the very near future."
When pressed again moments later, the president signaled he was unaware of the news. The reporter asked, "Any comment about the former Brazilian president being arrested today?"
Trump answered, "No, I don't know anything about it. Is that what happened? That's too bad. That's too bad. No, I just think it's too bad."
The comment stood in contrast to reports circulating in diplomatic circles suggesting that Trump had made calls with senior Brazilian officials overnight. The White House did not provide clarification on whom the president spoke with or how much detail he received.
Spanish journalist David Alandete highlighted the exchange on X. In a post published Saturday, Alandete wrote that Trump said he spoke "last night" with "someone in Brazil" and "we believe he's referring to Lula," referring to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, adding that the president then said "he knew nothing about Bolsonaro's arrest and calls it 'very bad'" in response to a question from Alandete's colleague, Mathias Brotero.
Trump's remarks came as Bolsonaro's legal situation intensified in Brazil.
According to Brazilian officials, Bolsonaro was taken into custody earlier in the day following a long-running confrontation with the Supreme Court. Hours before the arrest, Bolsonaro released a short video message saying, "We will always stand by your side. Stay strong. We will respond appropriately."
Michelle Bolsonaro, the former first lady, also posted that his supporters "will not give up on our nation."
Brazilian President Lula is abroad for a G20 summit in South Africa, leaving senior ministers to frame the government's response. One of them, Gleisi Hoffmann, said the arrest followed what she described as "violent attempts of coercion" of Supreme Court justices.
Bolsonaro has for months been confined under house arrest; his conviction in September for organizing an armed criminal group and attempting to abolish democratic rule led to a sentence of 27 years and three months in prison.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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