Lula Warns Trump Could Turn Brazil Into a ‘Colony’ Ahead of October Election

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has accused U.S. President Donald Trump with attempting to influence Brazil’s presidential election on Oct. 4, his campaign having shown a television advertisement stating that Washington wants to turn the country into a colony.

The one-minute advertisement, which was aired on Thursday, says that Trump is attempting to influence the election in favour of Flávio Bolsonaro, Senator Lula’s opponent. The video also accuses the U.S. president of seeking access to Brazil’s natural resources and harming the country’s future.

Lula reinforced the message on X, accusing Bolsonaro of wanting to “hand our natural resources over to the United States” and saying, “if it’s up to him, Brazil will become a colony again.”

Lula Warns Against Foreign Election Interference

The recent campaign message comes after weeks of tension between Brasília and Washington concerning Brazil’s election and U.S. policy with respect to the country.

At a campaign rally in Ceilândia in the Federal District on Sept. 17, Lula said he planned to use his trip to New York to defend Brazil’s sovereignty.

He told supporters, “On Sunday at 10 am, I’m getting on a plane to attend the UN meeting to speak with Trump and tell him: do not interfere in Brazil’s elections. Brazil does not want to be anyone’s colony. Brazil wants to be sovereign, governed by Brazilians, and build its future with the sweat and blood of Brazilians.”

At the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 22, Lula didn’t name Trump directly but warned against foreign interference in elections and what he described as renewed “hegemonic ambitions” in Latin America.

“We will not allow the enemies of democracy, internal or external, to attack the will of the people. Brazilian democracy belongs to the Brazilians,” Lula said.

The U.N. General Assembly’s 81st session will be going on from 22nd to 28th of September in New York.

Tariffs Deepen Tensions Between Brazil, Washington

The election dispute comes as Brazil and the United States face broader diplomatic and economic tensions, including U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods and disagreements involving Brazil’s government and U.S. policy.

Lula has portrayed the U.S. measures as part of broader pressure on Brazil. Washington has rejected accusations that it is attempting to interfere in the election.

The U.S. State Department previously dismissed allegations that the administration was using a “ploy” to undermine Brazil’s election as a “baseless lie.”

Lula’s campaign ad also referenced reports concerning alleged U.S. influence efforts, including claims involving technology companies, a Brazilian intelligence assessment and reported connections between Bolsonaro’s political network and Rockbridge.

U.S. Democrats Raise Election Concerns

The dispute has also attracted criticism from some members of the U.S. Congress.

Thirty-one Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sept. 24, expressing concern about what they described as an apparent effort by the Trump administration to interfere with or undermine Brazil’s election. The group included 30 House members and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The lawmakers asked the administration to respect Brazil’s electoral process and recognize the certified result regardless of which candidate wins. They also requested a response from Rubio by Oct. 1.

The letter represents the position of its Democratic signatories and does not establish that the Trump administration has attempted to alter the outcome of Brazil’s election.

Brazil Rivals Challenge Washington’s Election Role

Concerns about U.S. involvement have also been raised outside Lula’s Workers’ Party.

Renan Santos, another right-wing candidate in Brazil’s presidential race, accused Trump of seeking to make Brazil a “vassal state” and said he did not want Latin America to become an American protectorate. Santos also alleged that U.S. interests were linked to potential contracts involving Brazil’s rare-earth minerals.

Éden Valadares, communications secretary for Lula’s Workers’ Party, said the campaign ad was intended to “alert the Brazilian people.”

“We don’t believe it will work, but nor will we sit back and do nothing,” Valadares said, according to The Guardian. He said Lula had instructed the party to organize events across Brazil on Sunday.

Brazil Election Enters Final Stretch

Lula is seeking a fourth nonconsecutive term. Flávio Bolsonaro is running as his principal opposition candidate in the Oct. 4 first round.

Brazil will have a runoff on Oct. 25 if the candidates attain more than 50 per cent of the vote. The campaign is taking place against the backdrop of the disagreement between Brasília and Washington regarding tariffs, diplomacy and alleged foreign interference.

Lula and his allies claim that U.S. actions constitute election interference, whereas the Trump administration has denied that accusation. The first voting round is set for Oct. 4.