One day after a court block, President Lula revoked the visa of Donald Trump's advisor Darren Beattie, preventing his entry to Brazil where he planned to visit jailed ex-President Jair Bolsonaro. The move underscores Brazil's sovereignty amid US-Brazil tensions and responses to prior visa cancellations for Brazilian officials.
Following Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes' veto on March 12 of Darren Beattie's planned prison visit to Jair Bolsonaro—prompted by Foreign Ministry warnings of interference—President Lula ordered the US advisor's visa revoked on March 13, 2026. Beattie, a Trump government counselor critical of Lula and Brazilian judiciary, intended to meet Bolsonaro (serving time for an attempted coup) and his son Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), a 2026 presidential hopeful polling neck-and-neck with Lula.
The revocation responds to US visa cancellations for Brazilian Health Minister Alexandre Padilha in late 2025 and earlier Trump sanctions tied to Bolsonaro probes. Itamaraty Chancellor Mauro Vieira had alerted the Supreme Federal Court (STF) that the visit violated non-intervention principles, leading Moraes to reverse his initial approval. Beattie's separate request to meet TSE Vice-President Kassio Nunes Marques on elections was also blocked.
Lula aides worry about US bolstering 'bolsonarismo' ahead of October 2026 polls, though they note no direct Trump endorsement and ongoing talks for Lula's US trip in April on anti-crime pacts. PT leader Gleisi Hoffmann endorsed: 'Beattie's attempt to visit convicted Bolsonaro failed, and now he's visa-less by Lula's order.' A March Genial/Quaest poll showed 48% of Brazilians viewing the US unfavorably vs. 38% favorably.
Tensions peaked in 2025 over Bolsonaro sanctions but eased slightly post-UN meeting. Brazil aims to balance sovereignty with cooperation under Trump.
