President Donald Trump issued a formal endorsement of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro whose re-election campaign is heating up with less than one year ahead of the country’s presidential election in 2022.
“President Jair Bolsonaro and I have become great friends over the past years,” said Trump in a Tuesday statement from his Save America PAC. “He fights hard for, and loves, the people of Brazil—Just like I do for the people of the United States.”
Trump continued, “Brazil is lucky to have a man such as Jair Bolsonaro working for them. He is a great President and will never let the people of his great country down!”
Bolsonaro, a conservative, was elected president in 2018 with more than 55 percent of the popular vote. However, he faces a tight re-election battle against the left-wing former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
According to a Spontaneous Quaest/Genial poll, 55 percent of Brazilian voters are undecided on who to cast their ballots for in the 2022 election. Former President Lula has 22 percent support, and President Bolsonaro follows closely behind with 17 percent.
Bolsonaro will also face a battle with a Brazilian Senate committee, amid his re-election efforts, blaming him for the deaths caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The group of legislators recommended that charges be brought against Bolsonaro for his handling of the virus.
Bolsonaro denies any wrongdoing and has noted that the committee’s inquiry is politically motivated.
