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Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro was placed under house arrest Monday over an alleged coup plot. The order by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has strained ties with the US, where Donald Trump has defended Bolsonaro and responded with tariffs.
At the center of the controversy is Bolsonaro's alleged violation of court-imposed restrictions. Justice de Moraes cited the former president's continued engagement with political supporters through social media and public appearances, including a recent address to protestors in Rio via his son's phone, as a "flagrant disrespect" for court orders. Bolsonaro is also accused of inciting violence and encouraging foreign interference in Brazil's judicial process.
The former army captain, now 70, has been on trial for leading a conspiracy to overturn his 2022 election loss to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Prosecutors say the plot involved plans to assassinate both Lula and Justice de Moraes. Bolsonaro has denied the charges and labeled the proceedings "cowardly," while his lawyers have vowed to appeal the latest ruling.
Following the house arrest order, federal police in Brasilia seized Bolsonaro's phones. He is now prohibited from travel, receiving unauthorized visitors, or using communication devices. This marks the fourth time a former Brazilian president has been arrested since the end of the military dictatorship in 1985.
Trump has connected his administration's 50% tariff on Brazilian goods to the legal actions against Bolsonaro. Calling the trial a "witch hunt," Trump warned of further trade penalties. The U.S. Treasury last week sanctioned Justice de Moraes, accusing him of suppressing free speech and violating due process.
Political analysts warn of escalating instability. "This is just the start," said Creomar de Souza of Dharma Political Risk. "The 2026 election is shaping up to be a political minefield." Meanwhile, Bolsonaro's base remains active, staging the largest street demonstrations in months.
