Sao Paulo, Brazil Apr 18, 2019 President JAIR BOLSONARO, takes part in the Brazilian Army Day celebration at the headquarters of the Brazilian Army Command.

Overview:

In a move similar to America’s January 6th, 2021 insurrection, Brazil’s former President’s supporters stormed Brazil’s capitol building with intent to kill and subvert democratic proceedings. For his part, former President Jair Bolsonaro has been found guilty of attempting to overturn the 2022 election and orchestrating a coup d’état. His alleged goal was to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to regain power.

The Rise of Bolsonaro

Like much of the world, Brazil experienced a rise of right-wing populism throughout the 2010s. This mirrored global shifts with leaders such as Marine Le Pen in France, Viktor Orbán in Hungary, and Javier Milei in Argentina. In the United States, it was Donald Trump; in Brazil, it was Jair Bolsonaro.

Brazil was facing an economic crisis, widespread corruption, and rising crime. With mistrust in political institutions at a peak, Bolsonaro—an outsider figure—rose to prominence. His campaign gained further traction after an assassination attempt, which galvanized his base on social media.

Comparisons to Donald Trump

Bolsonaro’s rise bore striking similarities to Donald Trump’s. Both leveraged polarization and social media algorithms to spread populist messaging. Both dismissed institutional checks on their power, and both drew comparisons for their unexpected electoral victories.

Bolsonaro’s presidency was defined by:

  • Executive orders targeting indigenous rights, environmental protections, and gun legislation.
  • Controversial handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, during which he spread alleged misinformation, opposed masks and distancing, and promoted herd immunity strategies that may have contributed to higher death rates.

Conflict with the Supreme Court

Justice Alexandre de Moraes became a central figure in Bolsonaro’s downfall. Moraes oversaw probes into disinformation campaigns linked to Bolsonaro and his allies. Bolsonaro responded with verbal attacks and open defiance of the Supreme Court, escalating political tensions.

The Capitol Assault in Brasilia

Almost two years after the U.S. Capitol attack, hundreds of Bolsonaro supporters stormed the Brazilian Congress in Brasília. The rioters vandalized government buildings while Bolsonaro repeated claims that voting machines were rigged. Federal police blockades in Lula’s stronghold regions further fueled unrest.

Justice Moraes ordered the blockades removed, and Lula was confirmed victorious. Bolsonaro, like Trump, encouraged supporters to take action into their own hands, leading to chaos.

Investigations revealed Bolsonaro’s contact with a hacker to tamper with voting machines, fraudulent documentation, and direct incitement during the coup attempt.

  • January 30, 2023 – He was banned from running for office, just weeks after the insurrection attempt.
  • February 2025 – Bolsonaro was charged.
  • August 2025 – He was placed under house arrest.
  • September 2025 – He was found guilty of attempting to overturn the 2022 election and plotting assassinations of Lula, Alckmin, and Moraes.

Conclusion

Bolsonaro’s conviction is a historic moment for Brazil. It underscores the dangers of political polarization, disinformation campaigns, and right-wing populism. While each country’s circumstances differ, the parallels between Trump in the U.S. and Bolsonaro in Brazil illustrate the fragility of democratic systems under populist pressure.

Sources

Editor’s Disclaimer: This article was submitted by a contributing author. The views and opinions expressed are those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Presence News.

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