The United States has strongly criticized the house arrest order issued against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, calling the move politically motivated and vowing to hold accountable those involved in supporting such actions.
Brazil’s Supreme Court placed Bolsonaro under house arrest as he faces trial over allegations that he plotted a coup — claims he denies. The decision was handed down by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who cited repeated violations of prior restraining orders.
According to local media, the court’s ruling followed a recent incident in which Bolsonaro participated in a phone call that was broadcast to his supporters during a rally in Rio de Janeiro. The call was made public by his son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who later deleted the video from social media.
Justice Moraes said the call represented a “deliberate violation” of court-imposed restrictions. In his ruling, he wrote, “The flagrant disregard for the preventative measures was so obvious that… Senator Flávio Nantes Bolsonaro deleted the post from his Instagram account to conceal the legal transgression.”
In addition to house arrest, the court has banned Bolsonaro from using a mobile phone — directly or indirectly — and from receiving visitors, except lawyers or those authorized by the Supreme Court.
Moraes, who has himself been sanctioned by the US, accused Bolsonaro of using his allies’ social media platforms to spread messages promoting foreign intervention and inciting attacks against Brazil’s judiciary.
In response, Bolsonaro’s legal team denied breaching any restrictions and announced plans to appeal the decision.
The US State Department condemned the ruling in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), warning that Washington would “hold accountable all those aiding and abetting sanctioned conduct.”
Tensions around the case have international implications. Former US President Donald Trump — a close ally of Bolsonaro — has publicly defended the former Brazilian leader, calling the trial a “witch-hunt.” Trump recently cited Bolsonaro’s prosecution as one reason for slapping a 50% tariff on select Brazilian goods, despite the US maintaining a trade surplus with the country.
Trump and Bolsonaro shared a close relationship during their presidencies, and the former US leader has continued to voice support. Last month, Trump posted online that Bolsonaro “was not guilty of anything,” describing him as “a strong leader who truly loved his country.”
Pro-Bolsonaro rallies have been held in multiple Brazilian cities in recent days, signaling strong grassroots backing even as legal proceedings intensify. Bolsonaro remains barred from public office until 2030 due to prior electoral violations.
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