The approval of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva surpassed its disapproval rating for the first time in nine months, according to a survey published Thursday by AtlasIntel/Bloomberg. This increase comes amid growing diplomatic tensions between Brasilia and Washington, fueled by a tariff dispute imposed by the Trump administration.
In early July, the American president Donald Trump announced the introduction of 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports, citing an alleged "witch hunt" against his political ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro. The sanctions, officially implemented Thursday, target several sectors, although some strategic exemptions have been granted.
The Trump administration has also taken targeted measures against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing Bolsonaro's trial for attempted coup. In addition to visa restrictions, the judge is subject to sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, which Washington accuses of human rights violations.
Faced with these attacks, the Lula government responded fiercely, denouncing the actions of the US executive as interference in Brazilian internal affairs. President Lula called Trump an "undesirable emperor" and deemed the sanctions "unacceptable," thus galvanizing a portion of public opinion around his leadership.
According to the poll, 50,2% of respondents now approve of Lula's leadership, compared to 49,7% in the previous survey conducted two weeks earlier. This is the first time since October 2024 that the left-wing president has risen above the symbolic threshold of 50% approval.
The results reflect a surge in popular support at a time when the Brazilian president is adopting a firm, nationalist tone in the face of external pressure, illustrating how diplomatic confrontation can sometimes strengthen a head of state's political legitimacy at home.
