Brazilian Communists call for popular resistance to Trump's imperialist attacks

Trump and Bolsonaro at Mar-a-Lago, 2020 -- Alan Santos/PR, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Political Statement by the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB)

Brazil is facing an aggressive escalation of imperialism under the command of Donald Trump. Economic sanctions, political ultimatums, and explicit blackmail reveal a calculated economic war aimed at forcing the country into complete submission to U.S. interests, disrupting the Brazilian economy, and weakening the BRICS. Trump’s demands—such as amnesty for Bolsonaro, dismantling PIX, handing over rare earth minerals, among others—are outrageous, bordering on absurd, and deliberately designed to be rejected, creating a pretext for sanctions and economic destabilization.

Furthermore, Trump specifically attacks the Brazilian judiciary, particularly the Supreme Federal Court (STF) and Justice Alexandre de Moraes, aiming to discredit it and justify destabilizing the country. It must be remembered that Justice Moraes, acting within his constitutional duties, only imposes sanctions on those prosecuted by the Court, based on majority decisions.

This is a show of force intended to make Brazil an example—both to other countries in the capitalist periphery and to demonstrate how far imperialism will go to achieve its goals. U.S. imperialism is in deep crisis and seeks to reassert global dominance through coercion. Since Trump cannot economically subdue China or militarily defeat Russia, he has chosen Brazil as the weak link in the BRICS chain, turning our country into a testing ground for imperialist policy. Brazil is strategically located in the heart of Latin America—considered the U.S. "backyard." Our economy is deeply entangled with trade and financial flows controlled by U.S. banks, and most of our reserves are held in assets and institutions dominated by American imperialism.

Moreover, Brazil harbors a powerful internal fifth column composed of Bolsonaro’s far-right movement, including sectors of Congress, the military, big business, governors, and mayors, who openly align with imperialist interests. This faction, embedded in institutions, will sabotage any resistance to Trump’s blackmail. His administration actively empowers this far-right network, which has allies like Argentina’s government in South America. Many of these forces already openly support sanctions against Brazil, proving that Bolsonarism is not just a tool of U.S. interests but a movement of national betrayal, now working to destabilize Lula’s government. This internal threat must be fiercely combated, starting with the immediate arrest of Bolsonaro and all coup plotters.

Lula’s government has so far responded inadequately to this crisis. Despite reaffirming national sovereignty, its actions have been limited to meetings with business sectors affected by Trump’s measures, seeking backchannel negotiations with the U.S.—a futile effort. The administration underestimates the imperialist offensive, prioritizing diplomatic and institutional maneuvers, as it primarily represents the interests of the Brazilian bourgeoisie, especially agribusiness. However, resisting imperialism without popular mobilization is suicidal. History shows that in times of crisis, the Brazilian bourgeoisie always sides with imperialism. Taking to the streets with the masses is not just an option—it is a necessity.

Given this dire situation, Brazil must prepare for the worst. This is not alarmism but pragmatism: failure to prepare weakens resistance. A clear, bold strategy is needed, including:

• Organizing popular resistance through unions, grassroots movements, and youth, with mass mobilizations in streets, workplaces, neighborhoods, schools, and universities to build a broad social and political front against imperialism.

• Declaring a state of emergency (similar to COVID-19 measures), scrapping fiscal austerity and counter-reforms to protect production, jobs, and workers’ rights.

• Redirecting tariff-hit exports to domestic markets and school meal programs to lower food prices.

• Moving foreign reserves out of U.S.-controlled institutions to secure financial sovereignty. Brazil cannot leave nearly $400 billion vulnerable to blockades or confiscation.

• Diversifying trade partnerships, shifting exports to the Global South while deepening economic, technological, and military cooperation with China and Russia to deter interventionist threats.

Sanctions could also become a historic opportunity—U.S. imperialist arrogance may fuel popular outrage. We must intensify mobilizations to combat imperialism and the far-right, shifting the balance of power in favor of the people. These efforts must converge into a Popular Mobilization Front to defend national sovereignty, oppose administrative reforms, fight for a 30-hour workweek without wage cuts, abolish the 6x1 shift system, and enact a Social Responsibility Law addressing workers’ urgent demands.

We must reject Trump’s pressure to grant amnesty to Bolsonaro and coup conspirators. The NO AMNESTY campaign must grow, demanding prison for all coup plotters and their backers.

This moment must be transformed into an opportunity to chart a new path for Brazil—toward popular power and socialism. Resist imperialist blackmail with the masses!

DOWN WITH IMPERIALISM! JOIN THE PROTESTS ON AUGUST 1ST!

FOR SOVEREIGNTY AND THE PEOPLE’S INTERESTS!

NO AMNESTY! JAIL BOLSONARO AND ALL COUP PLOTTERS!

FOR POPULAR POWER, TOWARD SOCIALISM!