Trump Administration Revokes Brazilian Ambassador’s Visa Amid Dispute With Lula/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ The Trump administration revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the United States in response to Brazil’s rejection of visas for two American diplomats. Washington also accused President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government of delaying approval of Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to Brazil. Brazil called the decision politically motivated and part of a broader effort to influence its October presidential election.
Quick Look
- The U.S. revoked Brazilian Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti’s visa.
- Viotti is not being expelled from the United States.
- The State Department described the measure as reciprocal.
- Brazil denied visas to two U.S. diplomats in July.
- The diplomats said they planned to discuss election integrity and religious freedom.
- Brazil accused them of trying to interfere in its October election.
- Washington says Brazil is delaying approval of ambassador nominee Danny Perez.
- Brazil says the United States did not follow the proper diplomatic process.
- Perez’s nomination is awaiting a full Senate vote.
- The visa decision could be reversed if Brazil accepts Perez.
- Lula will face Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro in the presidential election.
- Trump has maintained close ties with the Bolsonaro family.
- The U.S. recently raised tariffs on thousands of Brazilian exports by up to 37.5%.
- The Trump administration also designated two major Brazilian criminal groups as terrorist organizations.
- Brazil described the U.S. actions as a deliberate escalation of hostility.
Deep Look
US Revokes Brazilian Ambassador’s Visa
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the United States, escalating a diplomatic dispute with the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The State Department said the decision responded to Brazil’s refusal to issue visas to two American diplomats who planned to visit the country before its October elections.
The administration also accused Brazil of delaying approval of President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as U.S. ambassador in Brasilia.
State Department Calls Action Reciprocal
The State Department described the visa revocation as a reciprocal response to Brazilian actions.
U.S. officials said the administration delayed the measure several times to give Lula an opportunity to reverse his government’s position.
They said the Brazilian president declined to do so.
However, the officials said Washington could quickly reverse the decision if Brazil takes what the administration considers appropriate action and accepts Trump’s ambassadorial nominee.
Brazil Accuses US of Political Interference
Brazil’s government said the visa revocation was politically motivated and intended to influence the country’s presidential election in October.
It also accused the United States of failing to follow international diplomatic rules when nominating an ambassador to Brazil.
The Lula administration said Washington’s action was part of a larger pattern of pressure against Brazil.
Trump and Lula Have Fractious Relationship
Trump has had a difficult relationship with Lula’s government, which has opposed several U.S. policies, particularly those concerning Venezuela and Cuba.
Tensions have also been fueled by Trump’s support for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his family.
Bolsonaro’s son, Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, is Lula’s principal opponent in the upcoming presidential election.
Lula has largely avoided criticizing Trump personally.
He has said the two leaders liked each other when they first met at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025.
Instead, Lula has blamed Secretary of State Marco Rubio for several of Washington’s actions against Brazil.
Ambassador Is Not Being Expelled
Brazilian Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti is not being formally expelled from the United States, according to a State Department official.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the diplomatic dispute.
Viotti previously served as a senior United Nations official.
Although her visa has been revoked, she could be allowed to resume her official duties if Brazil accepts Trump’s nominee for ambassador.
Danny Perez Awaits Brazilian Approval
Trump nominated former Florida House Speaker Danny Perez to serve as U.S. ambassador to Brazil in June.
A State Department official said Brazil had indicated that it would not act on the nomination until after the first round of voting on Oct. 4.
Perez’s nomination was submitted to the Senate on June 1.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted July 22 to advance the nomination to the full Senate, with a final vote expected by the end of the week.
Brazil Says US Failed to Follow Vienna Convention
Brazil’s government said Washington should have privately requested approval for Perez before publicly announcing his nomination.
It argued that this process is required under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Brazil said the U.S. request to send Perez remains “under analysis.”
The U.S. ambassador’s position in Brasilia has been vacant since Trump returned to office in January 2025.
Brazil Denied Visas to Two US Diplomats
Brazil denied visas last month to Riley Barnes, the assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, and one of his senior aides.
Reports suggested that the diplomats intended to criticize Lula or question Brazil’s election system.
The State Department denied those allegations.
It said Barnes and his aide planned to visit Brasilia from July 27 through July 30 to meet government officials, religious leaders and others.
The department said their discussions would focus on “election integrity,” religious freedom and freedom of expression.
State Department Denies Election Plot
The State Department characterized the planned diplomatic visit as routine.
It said “any insinuation of a ‘ploy’ to undermine a democratic nation’s election is a baseless lie.”
Brazil’s government rejected that explanation and stood by its decision to deny the visas.
It said the American officials “were planning to visit the country to cast doubts about the integrity of the Brazilian electoral system, in an unacceptable attempt to interfere in the national political process.”
Lula Government Questions Timing
A senior Brazilian diplomat said last week that the government expected a response from Rubio over the denied visas.
The diplomat spoke anonymously because the official was not authorized to discuss the dispute publicly.
The same official told the AP on Tuesday that the Lula administration was trying to understand why Washington was rushing to install an ambassador only months before Brazil’s election.
Lula Faces Flávio Bolsonaro
Lula, 80, is seeking a fourth term as Brazil’s president.
He will face Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of Jair Bolsonaro.
The Bolsonaro family has extensive connections with Trump administration officials.
Flávio Bolsonaro and his brother Eduardo met American officials in Washington in late May, including Trump.
US Targets Brazilian Criminal Groups
Shortly after the Bolsonaro brothers’ visit, the Trump administration designated Brazil’s two largest drug-trafficking organizations as foreign terrorist groups.
Those organizations are First Command Capital and Red Command.
Lula opposes the designations, adding another dispute to the strained relationship between Brasilia and Washington.
Trump Imposes Higher Tariffs on Brazil
The Trump administration also imposed tariff increases of up to 37.5% on thousands of Brazilian exports.
The new tariffs took effect Friday.
Washington accused Brazil of unfair competitive practices and failing to prevent forced labor.
The Lula administration rejected both claims and said the tariffs were intended to benefit Flávio Bolsonaro in the presidential election.
Brazil Calls US Measures Hostile
Brazil’s government said the ambassador’s visa revocation was not an isolated decision.
“It forms part of a deliberate escalation of hostile measures against Brazil, driven by ideological motives that are incompatible with a bilateral partnership that has always been guided by mutual respect,” the government statement said. “The improper intent to interfere in the forthcoming presidential election is also evident.”
Jair Bolsonaro Serving Sentence at Home
Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year prison sentence under house arrest for an attempted coup.
For years, the former president has questioned Brazil’s electronic voting system without presenting evidence to support his claims.
He has repeatedly alleged that voting machines used in Brazil for a quarter-century are vulnerable to fraud.
Flávio Bolsonaro has recently repeated some of those claims.
However, he avoided discussing them Saturday when his Liberal Party formally confirmed his presidential candidacy in São Paulo.
Brazil Says It Sought to Resolve Differences
Despite the escalation, Brazil’s government said it had attempted to resolve its disputes with Washington.
It said it “has spared no effort to resolve these differences” with the U.S government.
The diplomatic conflict now includes ambassadorial approvals, visa restrictions, tariffs, security policy and accusations of election interference.
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