Trump Calls Brazil's Presidential Runoff "Another Rigged Election" After Lula Victory

U.S. President Donald Trump has cast doubt on the legitimacy of Brazil's presidential election, suggesting the runoff won by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva against his political ally Flávio Bolsonaro may have been manipulated.

"It looked terrible to me. It looked like another rigged election, frankly. I didn't take sides, but it was a terrible look," Trump told reporters on Monday.

His remarks came as Bolsonaro refused to acknowledge defeat in Sunday's vote, accusing Brazil's judiciary of altering electoral procedures shortly before polling was due to end.

Trump Questions Election Credibility

Trump's intervention adds an international dimension to a dispute over Brazil's October 25 presidential runoff, which returned Lula to office for a fourth term.

According to figures attributed to Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE), Lula secured 51.79% of the vote, equivalent to 64,256,232 ballots. Bolsonaro received 48.21%, or 59,826,041 votes.

The margin was approximately 4.43 million votes, with turnout reaching about 80.8%.

Trump's criticism followed earlier comments favorable to Bolsonaro, whose first-round performance had drawn praise from the U.S. president.

Earlier media reports also attributed to Trump a comparison between the Brazilian election and what he called the Joe Biden playbook.

Despite his previous support for the Bolsonaro family, Trump maintained in his latest remarks that he had not taken sides in the contest.

Bolsonaro Challenges Last-Minute Voting Extension

Bolsonaro has focused his objections on a judicial decision that prolonged voting nationwide by two hours on election day.

Supreme Federal Court Justice Cristiano Zanin authorized the extension shortly after 5 p.m., citing transportation difficulties. The decision followed a request from Lula.

Bolsonaro denounced the timing and questioned the court's involvement.

"What happened today was not something normal. In fact, it was something unacceptable. At 5:01 PM, Justice Zanin makes a decision extending the election hours by two hours. This has never happened before in the history of Brazil," Bolsonaro said.

The defeated candidate has refused to concede and is seeking to challenge the result through the courts, including demands for annulment.

Brazil's electoral authorities have maintained that the additional voting period did not affect the outcome. According to the TSE leadership, only a small number of ballots were cast during the extension.

Bolsonaro's objections have also been amplified by Donald Trump Jr. and accounts associated with the U.S. president's political movement.

Lula Warns Against Foreign Interference

Lula has framed his victory partly around concerns about outside influence on Brazil's political process.

In his victory speech, the president accused foreign actors of attempting to influence the election through online platforms.

"This was an election in which we had to overcome interference coming from outside the country through digital platforms, which we will have to regulate," Lula said.

He also emphasized that his administration would represent the entire country rather than exclusively those who supported his candidacy.

Lula's latest victory marks his fourth election to the presidency. His new term is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2027.

International Reactions And Political Uncertainty

The disputed runoff followed a first round on October 4 in which Bolsonaro finished ahead with 47.03% of the vote, compared with Lula's 45.16%.

The reversal in the second round has become central to Bolsonaro's objections, although the official figures give Lula a clear numerical lead.

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum welcomed the result, congratulating Lula and describing it as a victory for Brazilian democracy.

Trump's comments, meanwhile, have placed Washington's political relationship with Brazil under renewed scrutiny.

With Bolsonaro challenging the voting extension and rejecting the official outcome, the dispute has moved beyond the ballot count and into a confrontation over the legitimacy of Brazil's electoral institutions.