Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva tells U.S. President Donald Trump to “stay out” of Brazil’s October presidential election amid renewed tension between Washington and Brasilia. Lula says it is acceptable for Trump to have an electoral preference in Brazil, including backing figures associated with right-wing politics, but he warns that Trump should not interfere in the election itself. The comments follow Trump’s renewed criticism of Brazil, including actions involving Brazil’s judiciary and related moves against Lula’s political opponents. Multiple outlets report that the exchange reflects wider frictions between the two countries, occurring as the United States also presses for new tariffs and designates two drug-trafficking groups as foreign terrorist organizations. The political backdrop in Brazil includes Lula’s re-election bid, with reports describing a close race against right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro, an ally of Trump. Overall, the statements frame a dispute over external involvement in Brazil’s electoral process while highlighting the broader strain in U.S.-Brazil relations.