Trump calls Bolsonaro’s preemptive arrest 'too bad' as ex-Brazilian leader taken into custody for 27-year sentence
Arrest comes days before Bolsonaro was set to begin serving 27-year sentence over attempted coup, with one judge suggesting former president was preparing to flee
ISTANBUL
US President Donald Trump on Friday lamented the arrest of his former Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro, who was taken into custody by police to begin serving his prison sentence, calling it “too bad.”
Asked by reporters as he departed the White House what he thought about Bolsonaro being detained by federal police, Trump initially said: “I don't know anything about that. I did not hear."
Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered the preemptive detention of the former far-right president, with a judge alleging he was preparing to flee just days before starting his prison sentence for orchestrating a coup attempt.
The 70-year-old was moved from house arrest to federal police headquarters in the capital Brasilia on Saturday.
This July, Trump imposed additional tariffs on Brazilian products, citing the prosecution of Bolsonaro as well as trade practices he considered unfair, but earlier this week lifted the extra 40% tariff on 238 Brazilian products, including coffee, beef, cocoa, mangoes, coconuts, and pineapples.
