Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has publicly defended the trial and subsequent sentencing of his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, to over 27 years in prison for orchestrating a coup attempt. In a strongly-worded opinion piece published in the New York Times, Lula refuted claims by former U.S. President Donald Trump that the trial was a ‘witch hunt,’ describing it instead as a ‘historic decision that safeguards Brazil’s institutions and democratic rule of law.’ Lula emphasized that the trial was conducted in strict adherence to Brazil’s 1988 Constitution, which was established after decades of struggle against military dictatorship. He also addressed the strained relations between the U.S. and Brazil, criticizing Trump’s imposition of 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports as ‘misguided and illogical.’ Lula argued that the U.S. had accumulated a $410 billion trade surplus with Brazil over the past 15 years, suggesting that the tariffs were politically motivated. He further accused the U.S. government of using tariffs and the Magnitsky Act to shield Bolsonaro from accountability. Lula concluded by asserting Brazil’s commitment to dialogue with the U.S. but made it clear that ‘Brazil’s democracy and sovereignty are not on the table.’ The trial, which concluded last Thursday, saw four out of five Supreme Court justices convict Bolsonaro on all charges. Bolsonaro’s legal team has announced plans to appeal the verdict.