Brazilian president rebukes Trump for "meddling" in internal affairs

SAO PAULO, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday rebuked U.S. President Donald Trump, saying he "should not meddle" in Brazil's internal affairs.

"We need to know how to give people what they need: affection, comfort and treat them with love. That is the difference between governing and caring, because the right word is not governing, but caring," he said at an event in Sorocaba, a city in the state of Sao Paulo.

Lula added that he wants to care for Brazil, and Trump should not meddle in the country's affairs.

Stressing that the defense of sovereignty goes beyond protecting borders and resources, Lula said, "It is about protecting the people. That is what the sovereignty of a country is all about. That is why we are not afraid of being shouted at. In fact, we are polite. I don't yell at anyone."

Last week, Trump called Brazil a "horrible trading partner," saying the trial against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was a "political execution."

On July 30, the Trump administration announced plans to impose tariffs of up to 50 percent on Brazilian exports and sanction Alexandre de Moraes, a justice of Brazil's Federal Supreme Court. Moraes is currently overseeing the case against Bolsonaro, who is accused of attempting to seize power following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election. ■