The US flag on Paulista Avenue has a political message, not just a surrender message.
It was a calculated message, aligned with the international political landscape of the far right. We'll have to wait and see what Trump's next moves are and what Brasilia's reaction will be.
The American flag waving on Paulista Avenue on September 7th should not be seen merely as a sign of ignorance or subservience to foreign interests on the part of Bolsonaro supporters. The gesture carries a political message, directed at Donald Trump, and reveals the submission of the Brazilian far-right to foreign leaders.
The message came from Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP), in a sort of informal exile in the US. By projecting the flag at the main Bolsonaro rally in 2025, the former president's son signaled to Trump that his allies in Brazil are counting on his intervention.
The implicit request is for Washington to expand punishments and sanctions against Brazilian authorities, especially the ministers of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), while Jair Bolsonaro (PL) faces trial for attempted coup and could receive up to 43 years in prison.
The Supreme Federal Court resumes this Tuesday (9), at 9 am, the trial that has as defendants former president Bolsonaro and seven former members of his government. The rapporteur, Minister Alexandre de Moraes, opens the voting. Blog do Esmael will broadcast the session live.
This unusual scene involving the US flag occurred alongside the official parade in Brasília, where President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) wore the green and yellow flag and reaffirmed his commitment to national sovereignty. The contradiction was glaring: while the government extols independence, the right-wing opposition makes room for foreign symbols.
In the background, there are also US military movements. The American war fleet is located near the northern coast of Brazil under the pretext of containing Nicolás Maduro's Venezuela. But, given Trump's open militancy against Lula and the upcoming election in 2026, it is not absurd to consider that Brazil may also figure on the radar of external pressures.
The episode, therefore, was not a "self-inflicted wound" for Bolsonaro's supporters. On the contrary, it was a calculated message, aligned with the international political landscape of the far right. We'll have to wait and see what Trump's next moves and Brasília's reaction will be.
* This is an opinion article, the responsibility of the author, and does not reflect the opinion of Brasil 247.
