Pastor Silas Malafaia and influencer Paulo Figueiredo clashed publicly on Thursday (22/1), after Malafaia backed Tarcísio de Freitas's presidential bid over Flávio Bolsonaro's. The exchange of barbs took place on social media, featuring mutual accusations and a debate challenge. The spat highlights divisions within the bolsonarista right.
In a fresh internal dispute within bolsonarismo, Pastor Silas Malafaia, leader of the Assembleia de Deus Vitória em Cristo, and influencer Paulo Figueiredo traded heated insults on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday (22/1). The clash began when Malafaia, in a recent interview, endorsed São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos) for the presidency, arguing it would be more effective against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) than Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ). Malafaia noted that Flávio was not well-received by the right and that Tarcísio has better access to the center.
Figueiredo shared a clip of the interview and criticized Malafaia, stating: “Triste ver o pastor neste estado. Briga com todas as pesquisas porque apostou no cavalo errado. Ainda assim, tenho certeza de que ele quer o melhor para o Brasil. Até que, para quem já apoiou entusiasticamente Lula, apoiar Tarcísio é uma evolução”. He alluded to Malafaia's support for Lula 24 years ago, when no corruption charges existed against the PT leader.
Malafaia fired back promptly, labeling Figueiredo a “frouxo e falastrão que não suporta ideias contrárias” and mocking his U.S.-based attacks on Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and differing views. In a tweet, he wrote: “PAULO FIQUEIREDO ! Triste é ver você usar expediente para me denegrir usando fato de 24 anos atrás , quando apoiei Lula , não existia nenhuma acusação de corrupção contra ele , não tínhamos candidato da direita só esquerda e centro esquerda. Fácil é ficar aí nos EUA atacando…”.
Figueiredo replied ironically: “Ui ui ui ficou doído assim com a primeira verdade que ouviu? Galvão, sentiu! Vá acostumando, esse piti afetado tem zero efeito em mim”. Malafaia then challenged him to a debate, suggesting a neutral journalist like Cláudio Dantas, and referenced Figueiredo's grandfather, former President João Figueiredo (1979–1985), who served under Emílio Garrastazu Médici (1969–1974), whom he called “o maior torturador de todos”, and Ernesto Geisel (1974–1979), who “não suportava opiniões contrárias”.
Figueiredo accepted the challenge but mocked Malafaia's mix-up, confusing his grandfather with his civilian father, and questioned the debate topic, noting Tarcísio's support for reelection in São Paulo. This marks Malafaia's second recent confrontation, following attacks on Senator Damares Alves (Republicanos-PB) for publicizing pastors and churches tied to investigations into illegal pension discounts, allegedly linked to Banco Master owner Daniel Vorcaro.
The episode underscores tensions in the bolsonarista base as the 2026 elections near, with key figures diverging on the right's future strategies.
