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Category: Politics
July 21, 2025
News
Politics

Bondi Backs Clinton Email Investigation.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) released documents related to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced on Friday, July 15, 2025, during a news conference in Arlington, Virginia.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Today, the Department of Justice honored Chairman Grassley’s request to release information relating to former-FBI Director James Comey’s failed investigation into Hillary Clinton’s mishandling of highly classified information during her tenure as Secretary of State.” – Pam Bondi

🎯IMPACT: The documents provide transparency into the investigation, following long-standing requests for clarity on the matter.

IN FULL

Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed on Friday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has made public a collection of documents related to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server. The disclosure follows repeated appeals from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who has consistently called for more openness in the investigation.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, Bondi credited Grassley’s persistence and highlighted the Justice Department’s broader mission to uphold transparency.

“Today, the Department of Justice honored Chairman Grassley’s request to release information relating to former-FBI Director James Comey‘s failed investigation into Hillary Clinton’s mishandling of highly classified information during her tenure as Secretary of State. I commend Chairman Grassley for his unwavering, years-long commitment to exposing the truth and holding those who seek to conceal it accountable,” Bondi said.

The timing of the release coincides with renewed questions surrounding Bondi’s office, particularly in relation to how it has managed documents connected to the Jeffrey Epstein case. Of particular note are accusations that several minutes’ worth of footage surrounding the alleged suicide of Epstein is missing from supposedly “raw” surveillance footage from near his cell released by the DOJ and the FBI.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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July 21, 2025
William Upton
Politics

Hunter: Joe’s Disastrous 2024 Debate Caused by Old Age and a Prescription Sedative.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Hunter Biden claims his father, former President Joe Biden, may have still been experiencing the effects of the prescription sedative Ambien during his campaign-ending debate performance against President Donald J. Trump in June 2024.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hunter Biden, interviewer Andrew Callaghan, and Joe Biden.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Hunter Biden made the claim during an interview that aired on Monday, July 21, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I’ll tell you what, I know exactly what happened in that debate. He [Joe Biden] flew around the world basically—the mileage he could have flown around the world three times. He’s 81 years old, he’s tired as shit. They give him Ambien to be able to sleep. He gets up on the stage, and he looks like he’s a deer in the headlights.” — Hunter Biden

🎯IMPACT: The former president’s son appeared to confirm that Joe Biden’s disastrous June 2024 debate performance was the result of old age and a prescription sedative.

Hunter Biden revealed his father, former President Joe Biden, may have still been experiencing the effects of the prescription sedative Ambien during his campaign-ending debate performance against President Donald J. Trump in June 2024. The son of the former president made the claim during a lengthy interview with social media personality Andrew Callaghan on his YouTube-hosted Channel 5 talk show.

“I’ll tell you what, I know exactly what happened in that debate. He [Joe Biden] flew around the world basically—the mileage he could have flown around the world three times. He’s 81 years old, he’s tired as shit. They give him Ambien to be able to sleep. He gets up on the stage, and he looks like he’s a deer in the headlights,” Hunter Biden claims, continuing: “And it feeds into every fucking story that anybody wants to tell. And Jake Tapper—with literally how many anonymous sources… if this was a conspiracy, Andrew, you know this, somehow the entirety of a White House—in which you’re literally living on top of each other—has kept their mouth shut about… you know… like what… what’s the conspiracy? That Joe Biden got old? Yeah, he got old. He got old before our eyes.”


The former president’s son goes on to note that the lack of support from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) allowed opposition to Biden’s re-election campaign post-debate to fester until he was forced to withdraw. However, importantly, Hunter Biden appears to confirm that his father was not only under the influence of a prescription sedative prior to the June debate, but that old age was, in fact, hampering his ability to run for re-election.

Notably, former President Joe Biden’s White House physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, has refused to testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding allegations that his boss suffered from cognitive decline while occupying the White House. The National Pulse previously reported that Dr. O’Connor abruptly left the hearing after pleading the Fifth. Two other senior Biden White House aides, Annie Tomasini and Anthony Bernal, have also refused to answer the committee’s questions, opting to plead the Fifth instead.

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July 21, 2025
Economy
Politics

Fed Chairman Powell Gets Criminal Referral for Perjury.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) referred Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for a criminal investigation over “materially false” claims made to Congress.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Anna Paulina Luna, Jerome Powell, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The referral was announced on Monday, following Powell’s June 25 testimony before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Chairman Powell knowingly misled both Congress and executive branch officials about the true nature of a taxpayer-funded project. Lying under oath is a serious offense—especially from someone tasked with overseeing our monetary system and public trust.” – Anna Paulina Luna

🎯IMPACT: The referral raises questions about Powell’s integrity, and could lay the groundwork for the Federal Reserve chairman’s removal from his position “with cause.”

IN FULL

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is the subject of a criminal referral filed with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) by Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL). The Florida Republican alleges Powell made “materially false” claims and appeared to have committed perjury during his June 25 testimony before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs regarding renovations to the Federal Reserve’s headquarters.

“I have formally referred Jerome Powell to the DOJ for criminal investigation,” Rep. Luna posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Chairman Powell knowingly misled both Congress and executive branch officials about the true nature of a taxpayer-funded project. Lying under oath is a serious offense—especially from someone tasked with overseeing our monetary system and public trust.”

Luna alleges that Powell lied when he denied reports about luxurious upgrades to the Fed’s headquarters, including roof terrace gardens, premium marble finishes, and modernized elevators. According to Luna, these denials were inconsistent with project plans submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission. “The revised plan includes a VIP private dining room, premium marble finishes, modernized elevators, water features, and a roof terrace garden—features that Powell publicly denied existed,” she wrote.

Luna also criticized Powell for a letter he wrote to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought regarding the construction and its cost increase from $1.9 billion to $2.5 billion. Vought, who has scrutinized Powell over the renovations, compared it to France’s Palace of Versailles, a byword for extravagance and excess.

Luna’s letter stated, “The discrepancies between Chairman Powell’s sworn testimony and the factual record call for a thorough and impartial review by your office. The integrity of oversight and the trust placed in public officials, particularly those responsible for monetary policy and stewardship of taxpayer resources, demand accountability at the highest levels.”

In recent weeks, Powell has faced growing criticism from Republicans, with President Donald J. Trump urging him to resign before his term as chairman expires in May 2026. Trump has repeatedly called for interest rate cuts, clashing with Powell’s continued hesitation toward slashing borrowing costs.

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July 21, 2025
William Upton
Politics

WATCH: Hunter Biden Demands El Salvador Invasion BRING BACK Illegals.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Hunter Biden unleashed a series of profanity-laced rants defending his father’s presidency during an erratic interview with the YouTube-based digital talk show, Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hunter Biden and Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The over three-hour-long interview was posted on YouTube on July 21, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “How are we getting those people back from El Salvador? Because I’ll tell you what, if I became President two years from now, or four years from now, or three years from now, I would pick up the phone and call the fucking president of El Salvador and say, ‘You either fucking send them back or I’m going to fucking invade.’ It’s a fucking crime, what they’re doing. He’s a fucking dictator, thug.” — Hunter Biden

🎯IMPACT: The remarks by Hunter Biden come on the one-year anniversary of his father’s exit from the 2024 presidential race.

IN FULL

Former President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, unleashed a series of angry and profanity-laced rants targeting those who oppose illegal immigration, along with George Clooney, former President Barack Obama, and Democratic Party operatives like Anita Dunn, David Axelrod, and James Carville, for forcing his father out of the 2024 presidential race. The former President’s son appeared overly animated and erratic while leveling the allegations during an interview with the YouTube-based digital talk show, Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan.

“And he’s somehow convinced all of us that these [migrants] are the fucking criminals?” Hunter Biden, referring to President Donald J. Trump, exclaims during one segment before continuing: “White Men in America are 45 more times likely to commit a fucking violent crime than an immigrant. And the media says, well, you’ve got David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel—so fucking smart Rahm Emanuel—’We’ve got to understand that these people are really mad. And we’ve got to appeal to these white voters.’ Rahm, the only people that fucking appealed to those fucking white voters was Joe Biden at 81 years old. And he got 81 million votes, and he did, not because he appeased their fucking Trumpian  sense, but because he challenged it.”

“But these guys think that we need to run away from all values in order for us to lead. I say, fuck you,” Hunter rants, adding: “How are we getting those people back from El Salvador? Because I’ll tell you what, if I became President two years from now, or four years from now, or three years from now, I would pick up the phone and call the fucking president of El Salvador and say, ‘You either fucking send them back or I’m going to fucking invade.’ It’s a fucking crime, what they’re doing. He’s a fucking dictator, thug.” Biden goes on to clarify that he was referring to both U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.

Bukele shared a clip of Hunter’s outburst on social media, asking if he was “sniffing powered milk”—likely in reference to the 55-year-old’s history of drug abuse.

In another segment, Hunter Biden angrily lashes out at his father’s detractors in the Democratic Party, blaming them for the Biden campaign’s abortive 2024 re-election bid. “Fuck him and everybody around him… George Clooney is not a fucking actor. He’s a brand,” Hunter Biden states, having reserved special ire for the Hollywood actor whose post-June 2024 debate op-ed trashing his father marked the beginning of the end for the re-election campaign.

Hunter continues, lashing out at a number of powerful Democrat campaign figures who became critical of Joe Biden’s decision to run for a second term. “James Carville hasn’t won a race in 40 fucking years,” Hunter Biden rages, adding: “David Axelrod had one success in his political life and that was Barack Obama and that was because of Barack Obama… The Pod Save America guys were junior fucking speech writers on Barack Obama’s Senate staff who have been dining out on the relationship with him, making millions… Anita Dunn has made $40-$50 million off the Democratic Party.”

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July 21, 2025
News
Politics

Trump Shares AI-Generated Video of Obama Being Arrested.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump shared an AI-generated video depicting former President Barack Hussein Obama being arrested in front of him at the White House, following revelations from Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard regarding Obama’s involvement in the Trump-Russia collusion hoax.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, former President Obama, DNI Gabbard.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The video was shared on Truth Social over the weekend.

💬KEY QUOTE: “These documents detail a treasonous conspiracy by officials at the highest levels of the Obama White House to subvert the will of the American people and try to usurp the President from fulfilling his mandate.” – Tulsi Gabbard

🎯IMPACT: The video and revelations have sparked significant debate, with Trump supporters praising the disclosures and calling for arrests.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump posted an AI-generated video on Truth Social that shows former President Barack Obama being arrested, handcuffed, and taken to prison over the weekend. The clip follows recent accusations from Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic presidential candidate and the current Director of National Intelligence (DNI), who has publicly accused Obama of orchestrating a high-level effort to undermine Trump’s first presidency via the Russiagate hoax.

Gabbard said that newly released documents expose what she called “a treasonous conspiracy by officials at the highest levels of the Obama White House to subvert the will of the American people and try to usurp the President from fulfilling his mandate.” She also promised that this was just the beginning: “We will be releasing more detailed information about how exactly this took place, and the extent to which this information was sought to be hidden from the American people.”

Trump applauded Gabbard while reacting to a cable news segment in which White House spokesman Harrison Fields and others discussed the revelations, writing on his Truth Social platform, “The Panel was fantastic on prosecuting Obama and the ‘thugs’ who have just been unequivocally exposed on highest level Election Fraud. Congratulations to Tulsi Gabbard. Keep it coming!!!”

WATCH

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July 18, 2025
Crime
Politics

Schiff Gets Criminal Referral to DOJ.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency filed a criminal referral against Sen. Adam Schiff, alleging violations of federal laws tied to mortgage and tax fraud.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Director William Pulte of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The referral, detailing actions spanning from 2003 to 2019, was sent to the Justice Department and covered properties in Maryland and California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Based on media reports, Mr. Adam B. Schiff has, in multiple instances, falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, impacting payments from 2003–2019 for a Potomac, Maryland-based property.” – William Pulte

🎯IMPACT: Schiff faces potential penalties, including up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines, if charged and convicted.

IN FULL

A criminal referral submitted by William Pulte, Director of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), to Attorney General Pam Bondi, accuses Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) of possibly violating multiple federal statutes, including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, and making false statements to financial institutions.

According to a report published on July 17, Pulte’s referral is based on findings from Fannie Mae financial crimes investigators and outlines what he describes as a “pattern of possible occupancy misrepresentation” connected to Schiff’s handling of real estate holdings in Maryland and California from 2003 to 2019.

“Based on media reports, Mr. Adam B. Schiff has, in multiple instances, falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, impacting payments from 2003–2019 for a Potomac, Maryland-based property,” Pulte wrote in the referral.

At the center of the allegations is Schiff’s repeated declaration of both his California and Maryland residences as “primary residences” on mortgage applications. This move would violate federal rules permitting only one primary residence designation at a time. The referral cites instances in 2009, 2011, and 2013 where Schiff refinanced his Maryland home while simultaneously identifying a California condominium as his principal residence.

According to the referral, this dual-claim arrangement was not corrected until 2020, when Schiff reclassified the Maryland property as a secondary residence.

“Primary residence mortgages receive more favorable loan terms, including lower interest rates, than secondary residence mortgages,” Pulte stated in the referral. He further alleged that Schiff financially benefited from these misrepresentations through more advantageous refinancing rates and a property tax reduction on his California home totaling approximately $7,000.

The referral also draws broader connections between Schiff’s alleged misconduct and ongoing concerns about mortgage fraud involving Democratic Party officials. It references explicitly related allegations involving New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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July 18, 2025
Corruption
Politics

Third Biden Aide Invokes Fifth Amendment in Cognitive Decline Probe.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Annie Tomasini, a senior advisor and deputy chief of staff to former President Joe Biden, invoked the Fifth Amendment during a House Oversight deposition regarding Biden’s cognitive decline.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Annie Tomasini, House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY), and other Biden aides who also pleaded the Fifth.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The closed-door deposition occurred during the House Oversight Committee’s investigation on July 18, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for this potential conspiracy,” said Rep. James Comer.

🎯IMPACT: Tomasini is the third senior Biden White House aide to plead the Fifth, raising further questions about the former presidential administration’s transparency regarding the octogenarian Biden’s health and whether he knew decisions were being authorized via autopen in his name.

IN FULL

Annie Tomasini, a senior advisor and deputy chief of staff to former President Joe Biden, pleaded the Fifth Amendment during a closed-door deposition, according to House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY). The former senior Biden White House aide had initially agreed to voluntarily participate in the deposition, but her attorney later reversed course and requested that the committee issue a subpoena. The deposition was slated to focus on Biden’s mental decline and allegations that presidential directives—including pardons—were issued without his knowledge.

“There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for this potential conspiracy,” Chairman Comer stated on X (formerly Twitter). Tomasini reportedly refused to answer questions about whether Biden or anyone at the White House instructed her to lie about his health, handle classified documents, or conceal information about Biden family business dealings.

Tomasini is the third Biden aide to invoke the Fifth Amendment in this investigation. The former chief of staff to former First Lady Jill Biden, Anthony Bernal, and former Biden White House physician Kevin O’Connor also declined to answer questions under oath earlier this month. The National Pulse has previously reported that Bernal and Tomasini comprised a “politburo” of aides who controlled the Biden White House and formed a protective bubble around Joe Biden.

Comer initially issued a subpoena to Tomasini, accusing her of “running interference” for Biden as concerns about his mental state grew. Notably, ousted Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chairman David Hogg and Biden-era White House staffer Deterrian Jones were caught in a secret recording discussing the outsized influence of the cadre of senior White House aides, especially Tomasini and Bernal.

“The bigger issue was, like, the inner circle that was around Biden,” Hogg said, adding: “Like, Jill Biden’s chief of staff had an enormous amount of power.” Jones went on to describe Bernal, specifically, as a “scary… shadowy, Wizard of Oz type figure.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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July 18, 2025
William Upton
Politics

Federal Govt Slashed by Over 22,000 Across D.C., MD, and VA.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The total federal workforce in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area has been reduced by an estimated 22,000 employees, according to data released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and federal workers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The central bank study was released on Thursday, July 17, and covers the period between January and May 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “On net, federal employment in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia has declined by roughly 22,100 positions,” the bank stated.

🎯IMPACT: Maryland has seen a 5.4 percent decrease in federal employment. Virginia has seen a 4.8 percent decline, but the District of Columbia has only seen a 1.9 percent drop.

IN FULL

New data released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond reveals the total federal workforce in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area has been reduced by an estimated 22,000 employees. The U.S. central bank’s Richmond branch suggests the number of federal workers being laid off will continue to increase in the foreseeable future.

Notably, federal government employment comprises a significant portion of the total employment in Maryland (5.4 percent), Virginia (4.4 percent), and Washington, D.C. (24.6 percent). As a result of workforce reduction initiatives implemented by President Donald J. Trump, including some cuts enacted by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Maryland has seen a 5.4 percent decrease in federal employment. Meanwhile, Virginia has seen a 4.8 percent decline, though the District of Columbia has only seen a 1.9 percent drop.

“There is evidence that the attempt to shrink the federal workforce is having an impact on the DMV region of the Fifth District,” the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond study states, concluding: “On net, federal employment in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia has declined by roughly 22,100 positions, and there has been a sustained increase in unemployment claims, particularly in D.C. proper.”

The number of federal layoffs is likely to increase exponentially after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a lower court order that previously blocked the Trump administration from cutting workforces across 19 federal departments and agencies. Only one justice dissented, suggesting that Trump will ultimately prevail in a final ruling by the high court.

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July 18, 2025
Health
Politics

This U.S. Territory Just Banned Sex Changes for Under-21s.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Sex change surgeries for people under 21 have been banned in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the use of public funds for such procedures has been prohibited.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Jenniffer González-Colón (R), Puerto Rican Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz (R), and the Puerto Rico LGBTQ+ Federation.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The bill was signed into law on Wednesday and will take effect in October.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The protection of our children and the well-being of all minors is fundamental and non-negotiable!” — Puerto Rican Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz

🎯IMPACT: Sex change medics face fines, prison time, and license revocation for violations, but the law’s constitutionality is set to be challenged in court.

IN FULL

Puerto Rico has enacted a law banning sex change surgeries for people under the age of 21 and prohibiting the use of public funds for such procedures. Governor Jenniffer González-Colón (R) signed the bill into law on Wednesday. The legislation imposes fines of $50,000 per violation on medics who provide hormone therapy or sex change surgeries to minors in the U.S. territory, along with potential penalties of 15 years in prison and the revocation of medical licenses and permits.

Puerto Rican Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz (R), who authored the legislation, celebrated the signing, stating, “The protection of our children and the well-being of all minors is fundamental and non-negotiable!”

The law emphasizes officials’ responsibility to protect minors, stating, “Minors, having not yet reached the necessary emotional, cognitive, and physical maturity, are particularly vulnerable to making decisions that can have irreversible consequences. Therefore, it is the State’s duty to ensure their comprehensive well-being.”

The Puerto Rico LGBTQ+ Federation has announced plans to challenge the law in court. Co-director Justin Jesús Santiago described the law as “cruel and inhumane,” while federation president Pedro Julio Serrano criticized Governor González-Colón, calling her “the most anti-equity governor in history.”

Image by Quinn Dombrowski.

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July 18, 2025
Politics
World

Trump Ally Bolsonaro Detained in Brazil Amid Concerns He Will Seek Asylum in U.S.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has reportedly been fitted with an electronic ankle tag by authorities amid concerns he might seek asylum in the U.S., where he has the support of President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s Supreme Court, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and President Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Brazil, as Bolsonaro faces trial before the country’s Supreme Court.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you.” – Donald Trump in a letter to Bolsonaro.

🎯IMPACT: Bolsonaro is accused of plotting a coup against President Lula and faces trial, with potential implications for Brazil’s democracy and political stability.

IN FULL

Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s former populist president, has reportedly been fitted with an electronic ankle tag by authorities over concerns he may attempt to flee to the United States and seek asylum. Brazilian prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro, sometimes known as the ‘Tropical Trump,’ of plotting a coup against the incumbent far-left President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and he is now facing trial before the country’s Supreme Court. The allegations have heightened tensions in Brazil, with Bolsonaro still holding significant public support.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his support for Bolsonaro, writing in a recent letter, “Terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you.” Additionally, earlier this month, Trump announced he would increase U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods to 50 percent on August 1, 2025—in part as punishment for the country’s political persecution of Bolsonaro.

In response to the tariff threat, President Lula declared that Brazilian political leaders who support Bolsonaro and Trump are “traitors to the homeland.” He added: “Brazil has only one owner: the Brazilian people.” However, judges have already denied the Brazilian people the opportunity to vote for Bolsonaro by banning him from standing for election.

Meanwhile, in a Thursday post on Truth Social, President Trump demanded that Lula “changes course” and “stop attacking” Bolsonaro. Unlike most of the other tariff measures imposed by Trump, the trade duties on Brazilian goods are being justified in almost entirely political terms, linked to the South American country’s treatment of Bolsonaro.

Responding to the 50 percent tariff imposition in a letter to the Trump administration, Brazil expressed “indignation” at the increased trade duties. Though Lula insists he is “betting on good commercial and diplomatic relations” to ensure the U.S. tariffs on his country are lowered in the near term.

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