Bolsonaro's family dynasty creaks under pressure of Brazil coup trial

Brazilian lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro discusses his efforts to put U.S. pressure on Brazil to halt the trial of his father, right-wing former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, in Washington, on Aug. 14. | REUTERS

By Daniel Carvalho and Martha Beck
BLOOMBERG

Aug 24, 2025

Eduardo Bolsonaro wanted a win, and when U.S. President Donald Trump in July threatened to hit Brazil with 50% tariffs, he believed he had one.
Four months earlier, the 41-year-old had abandoned his congressional seat in Brazil to move to the U.S. in a bid to persuade the White House to help his father, Jair Bolsonaro — the nation’s former leader who is on trial for an alleged coup attempt.

When Trump demanded that Brazil’s Supreme Court put a stop to the trial if the country wanted to avoid the tariffs, it seemed like the younger Bolsonaro had succeeded in his mission. But he was frustrated that his dad didn’t share his enthusiasm in the moment.

"The most powerful man in the world is on your side,” he told his father, according to text messages released by the Supreme Court this week. "If the main beneficiary can’t even post a soft tweet, we’re screwed.”

When Jair Bolsonaro later described his son as "immature,” Eduardo exploded. "Go f--- yourself, you ungrateful motherf-----,” he wrote in one of the messages, which Federal Police compiled as part of another probe. "You’re my biggest obstacle in trying to help you,” he said in another.

More:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/24/world/politics/bolsonaro-family-dynasty-trial/