He wished Trump luck and mentioned attending the inauguration—if he had his passport.
Em março de 2024, Jair Bolsonaro e Donald Trump trocaram palavras por videochamada, mediados pelo filho do ex-presidente brasileiro, enquanto um jantar acontecia em Mar-a-Lago. O gesto — breve, fotografado e logo tornado público — revelou a persistência de laços entre dois líderes populistas que enfrentam, cada um à sua maneira, pressões jurídicas e batalhas políticas em seus países. Bolsonaro, com o passaporte apreendido pela Justiça brasileira, desejou sorte a Trump e mencionou que, se pudesse, estaria presente na posse. Há, nesse encontro virtual, algo que transcende a cordialidade: a afirmação de uma solidariedade entre figuras que se reconhecem no mesmo campo de forças.
- Bolsonaro está impedido de deixar o Brasil por ordem do STF, investigado por suposta tentativa de golpe após as eleições de 2022 — e ainda assim encontrou forma de se conectar ao aliado americano.
- A videochamada, intermediada pelo filho Eduardo durante um jantar em Mar-a-Lago, foi fotografada e publicada nas redes sociais, transformando um momento privado em declaração política.
- Trump acabara de garantir delegados suficientes para ser o candidato republicano, e a corrida contra Biden — a dupla mais velha já a disputar a presidência americana — estava oficialmente em curso.
- A defesa de Bolsonaro tenta recuperar seu passaporte propondo que viagens ao exterior dependam de autorização judicial caso a caso, mas a decisão ainda pende no tribunal.
- O que foi dito além dos cumprimentos permanece desconhecido — e essa opacidade alimenta tanto a especulação quanto o simbolismo do encontro.
Jair Bolsonaro conversou com Donald Trump por videochamada em 14 de março de 2024, durante um jantar realizado em Mar-a-Lago, na Flórida. A ponte entre os dois foi Eduardo Bolsonaro, deputado federal e filho do ex-presidente brasileiro, que ficou entre eles durante a troca. Uma fotografia do momento foi publicada no X pela deputada Júlia Zanatta, tornando pública a conversa.
Bolsonaro descreveu o contato como breve. Disse ter desejado sorte a Trump na eleição americana e mencionado que, se tivesse seu passaporte, compareceria à posse. A ressalva não era retórica: o documento havia sido apreendido pelo Supremo Tribunal Federal no âmbito da Operação Tempus Veritatis, investigação sobre uma suposta tentativa de golpe após as eleições brasileiras de 2022. Bolsonaro figura entre os investigados. Dois de seus ex-assessores foram presos: Filipe Martins e o coronel Marcelo Câmara.
A defesa do ex-presidente busca reverter a situação. A proposta apresentada ao tribunal não pede liberdade irrestrita de circulação, mas sim que eventuais viagens ao exterior sejam autorizadas judicialmente caso a caso. A decisão ainda não foi tomada.
Do outro lado da tela, Trump vivia um momento de consolidação: havia garantido delegados suficientes para ser o candidato republicano e se preparava para enfrentar Joe Biden novamente — quatro anos após a derrota de 2020. Com 77 e 81 anos respectivamente, os dois formariam o par de candidatos mais velho da história americana, e a primeira revanche presidencial desde que Eisenhower derrotou Stevenson pela segunda vez, em 1956.
O gesto de Bolsonaro — a torcida, a menção à posse — sinalizou alinhamento entre dois líderes populistas pressionados juridicamente em seus países. O que foi dito além das formalidades, porém, permanece entre os homens que participaram da chamada e o filho que os uniu.
Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil's former president, spoke with Donald Trump across a video call during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. The conversation was arranged through Eduardo Bolsonaro, a federal deputy and Jair's son, who stood between the two men as they talked. A photograph of the exchange was posted to X by fellow deputy Júlia Zanatta on March 14, 2024, making the private moment public.
Bolsonaro later described the call to CNN Brasil as brief. The two ex-presidents discussed the American election, he said. He wished Trump luck in the race ahead and mentioned that if circumstances permitted—if he had his passport—he would attend Trump's inauguration later in the year. The comment carried weight because Bolsonaro's passport had been confiscated by order of Brazil's Supreme Court.
The confiscation came as part of Operation Tempus Veritatis, an investigation into whether a coup attempt occurred in Brazil following the 2022 elections. Bolsonaro is among those under investigation. The court order also barred him from contacting other suspects in the case. Two men were arrested: Filipe Martins, who served as Bolsonaro's special advisor, and Marcelo Câmara, an Army colonel and former special advisor to the politician.
Bolsonaro's legal team has petitioned the court to return his passport and reconsider the travel ban. They have proposed a compromise: instead of an outright prohibition on leaving Brazil, Bolsonaro would need to request judicial permission each time he wished to travel abroad. The request remains pending.
The timing of the video call coincided with a significant moment in American politics. Trump had secured enough delegates to become the Republican Party's presidential nominee. He was preparing to face Joe Biden again—a rematch four years after Biden defeated him in 2020. Biden, now 81, was seeking reelection. Trump was 77. Together they would form the oldest pair of candidates ever to compete for the presidency, and the first time since 1956 that two major-party nominees had faced each other before. That earlier contest pitted Republican Dwight Eisenhower against Democrat Adlai Stevenson, with Eisenhower prevailing in both matchups.
Bolsonaro's gesture toward Trump—the wish for success, the mention of attending the inauguration—signaled alignment between the two populist figures at a moment when both faced legal and political pressures in their respective countries. Yet the conversation itself remained opaque. What was said beyond the pleasantries, what promises or understandings might have been exchanged, remained known only to the men involved and the son who connected them.
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It was a quick conversation. We discussed elections. I wished him luck and said if everything works out, I'll attend his inauguration this year, if I have my passport.— Jair Bolsonaro, to CNN Brasil
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Why does this video call matter? It's just two former presidents saying hello.
Because Bolsonaro isn't supposed to be leaving Brazil, and he's talking about attending Trump's inauguration. The court took his passport. This is him signaling defiance or at least testing the boundaries.
But he didn't actually leave Brazil for this call. It was a video.
Right. But the statement about attending the inauguration—that's the real message. He's saying the confiscation won't stop him. And by having his son arrange it, he's using family as a shield.
What does Trump get out of this?
Association with another populist leader facing legal trouble. It's a show of solidarity without commitment. Trump doesn't have to do anything; he just has to be on the call.
Is this illegal?
Probably not the call itself. But if Bolsonaro leaves Brazil without permission, that violates the court order. The call is him testing whether anyone will stop him.
And will they?
That's the open question. His lawyers are already asking the court to soften the restrictions. This video is part of the pressure campaign.