Gleisi confronts Tarcísio: 'It's at times like this that we distinguish patriots from traitors'

247 - The Minister of Institutional Relations, Gleisi Hoffmann (PT), reacted with indignation to the decision by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian products. In a post on social media, this Thursday (10), Gleisi classified the measure as “the biggest attack ever made on Brazil in peacetime” and denounced the alignment of figures from the Brazilian far right, such as the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos), and Jair Bolsonaro (PL), to what she called “blackmail by the US president”.

The measure announced by Trump will take effect on August 1st and represents an escalation in trade tensions between Washington and Brasília. In a letter sent to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), the White House chief not only formalized the tariff increase but also defended Bolsonaro, who is facing an investigation by the Supreme Federal Court (STF) for attempted coup d'état in 2023.

In a tone of economic pressure, the Republican also suggested that Brazil open its markets and eliminate tariffs and trade barriers, implying that only then could the White House "consider an adjustment" to the new tariff.

Gleisi's response was forceful. "Those who are putting ideology above the interests of the country are Governor Tarcísio and all of Bolsonaro's accomplices who applaud Trump's tariff hikes against Brazil," she stated. In her assessment, this is a direct attack on the Brazilian economy, sovereignty, and democracy, as part of an ongoing authoritarian project. "It is a continuation of the coup for which Bolsonaro is being tried in the Supreme Court, now using tariffs from a foreign country to impose his dictatorial project," she wrote.

The minister also highlighted the historic role that Brazilians have at this moment. "It is at this time that a nation distinguishes patriots from traitors," said Gleisi, citing an editorial in the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo that harshly criticized Tarcísio's stance. "It is absolutely deplorable that there are still those in Brazil who defend Trump, as the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas, recently did (...) This is the harm that an irresponsible person like Bolsonaro does to Brazil, with the help of all those who give him political support with a view to inheriting his electoral patrimony," the newspaper highlighted.