Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has faced accusations of undermining democratic institutions and promoting baseless claims of electoral fraud, revealed that he has been invited by President-elect Donald Trump to attend his inauguration on January 20.
“Very honored to receive from the President of the USA, @realDonaldTrump, an invitation to his inauguration and that of his Vice President @JDVance,” Bolsonaro wrote on X on Wednesday. “My lawyer, Dr. Paulo Bueno, has already forwarded a request to Minister Alexandre de Moraes for me to get my passport back so that I can attend this honorable and important historical event.”
Bolsonaro, currently embroiled in legal challenges, may face hurdles when attending the ceremony. Axios reported that his son claimed Trump “identifies himself” with Bolsonaro, referring to them both as victims of “disgusting lawfare,” a term frequently used in MAGA circles to describe perceived politically motivated legal actions, told Axios.
The parallels between Bolsonaro’s and Trump’s approaches to democratic institutions have drawn global attention. Human Rights Watch criticized Bolsonaro in 2021 for “threatening democratic rule in Brazil.” The organization noted his efforts to intimidate Brazil’s Supreme Court, suppress freedom of expression, and spread unfounded allegations of electoral fraud.
At the time, Americas Director José Miguel Vivanco stated, “President Bolsonaro, an apologist for Brazil’s abusive military dictatorship, is increasingly hostile to the democratic system of checks and balances. He is using a mixture of insults and threats to intimidate the Supreme Court, which is overseeing investigations into his conduct, and with his baseless claims of electoral fraud seems to be laying the groundwork to either try to cancel next year’s elections or contest the will of the people if he is not re-elected.”
Bolsonaro’s controversial leadership and his similarities to Trump’s post-election behavior have sparked significant criticism. Both leaders have been accused of employing tactics that erode public trust in democratic processes and institutions, raising concerns about their long-term impact on governance in their respective countries.
While Bolsonaro expressed enthusiasm about attending the inauguration, his legal troubles may ultimately prevent his participation. The invitation, however, underscores the ideological alignment between the two leaders and their shared narratives of electoral victimization. As Trump prepares to take office again, the international spotlight on his administration and its allies continues to intensify.