Trump says vote 'looked horrible and corrupt'

Lula wins fourth term, defeating Bolsonaro

Trump questioned vote-counting process but provided no proof

Trump had made friendly remarks toward right-wing candidate

President Donald Trump gestures during a campaign rally in Youngstown, Ohio, on Oct. 12 (local time), stumping for Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. [Reuters]
President Donald Trump gestures during a campaign rally in Youngstown, Ohio, on Oct. 12 (local time), stumping for Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. [Reuters]

President Donald Trump has raised allegations that the Brazilian presidential election was rigged after left-wing incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured a fourth term in office. Trump questioned the vote-counting process after a right-wing candidate with whom he had maintained friendly ties lost the race, though he offered no concrete evidence to support the claim.

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews before departing for Mississippi on Monday (local time), Trump said the Brazilian election result "looked horrible" and that, while he had not taken sides, it "looked like another rigged election," according to Reuters and other outlets.

Trump reiterated that he had not backed either side, but added, "I watched the election. It looked really, really corrupt."

Asked whether he planned to respond to the result, Trump said, "I don't govern Brazil. I govern the United States." He went on to say he believed "something very unfortunate happened in the election with respect to the counting," again casting doubt on the vote-counting process.

Trump did not specify what led him to conclude the election had been manipulated.

In Sunday's runoff election in Brazil, Lula — widely known as the godfather of the Latin American left — defeated right-wing Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro to win a fourth presidential term. Lula pulled off a dramatic comeback during the count to reclaim the presidency.

Trump did not formally endorse any candidate in the race. However, after Bolsonaro's strong showing in the first round of voting, Trump praised the result and described the Brazilian presidential election as "a very important election."

Trump has long maintained a close relationship with Flávio Bolsonaro's father, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, while clashing with Lula over their differing political views.

Trump's unsubstantiated allegations of fraud could reignite tensions between the two leaders in the wake of Lula's fourth-term victory.


sjy@heraldcorp.com