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Brazil’s Lula aims to develop relationship with Trump, Washington Post reports

By Thomson Reuters May 17, 2026 | 5:47 AM

May 17 (Reuters) – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said ​his personal relationship ‌with U.S. President Donald Trump could help attract American investment to Brazil, prevent more ‌tariffs ​and sanctions ⁠and secure respect ⁠for Brazilian democracy.

“Trump knows I oppose war with Iran, disagree with ​his intervention in Venezuela and condemn the ⁠genocide that ⁠is happening in Palestine,” ​Lula said in an ​interview with the Washington Post ‌published on Sunday.

“But my political disagreements with Trump do not interfere ⁠with my relationship with him as a head of state. ⁠What ‌I want is ⁠for him to ​treat ‌Brazil with respect, ​understanding that ⁠I am the democratically elected president here.”

(Reporting by Rhea Rose Abraham in Bengaluru; Editing by Alex ​Richardson)