Chapter 110: Brazil Last

409      Present . . . Eduardo Bolsonaro Olivia Little, “MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell’s Facebook Posts Are Full of Insider Information from January 6,” MediaMatters, February 5, 2021, www.mediamatters.org/january-6-insurrection/mypillow-ceo-mike-lindells-facebook-posts-are-full-insider-information; Seth Abramson, “Major Update on January 5 Trump War Council Expands Its Potential Size Significantly,” Proof, February 6, 2021, sethabramson.substack.com/p/breaking-major-update-on-january; and Brian Mier, “Eduardo Bolsonaro ‘War Council’ Visit Triggers Investigation,” Brasil Wire, March 11, 2021, www.brasilwire.com/eduardo-bolsonaro-war-council-visit-triggers-investigation/. 

409      a member . . . since 2015 Richard Mann, “Meet Eduardo Bolsonaro, Parallel Chancellor of Brazil and Close Ally of Steve Bannon,” Rio Times, May 3, 2019, www.riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-politics/meet-eduardo-bolsonaro-parallel-chancellor-of-brazil-and-close-ally-of-steve-bannon/. 

409      the chair of Brazil’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Defense Estadão Conteúdo, “Chamber: Eduardo Bolsonaro Is Elected President of the Foreign Relations Committee,” Estado De Minas, March 14, 2019, www.em.com.br/app/noticia/politica/2019/03/14/interna_politica,1037862/camara-eduardo-bolsonaro-e-eleito-presidente-da-comissao-de-relacoes.shtml, via Google Translate.

409      signed Vox’s Madrid Charter Disenso Foundation, “Madrid Charter: In Defense of Freedom and Democracy in the Iberosphere,” Madrid Forum, October 26, 2020, fundaciondisenso.org/carta-de-madrid-en-defensa-de-la-libertad-y-la-democracia-en-la-iberosfera/, via Google Translate.

409      “Italy’s new prime minister is God, fatherland and family” Eduardo Bolsonaro, Twitter, September 25, 2022, 9:33 p.m., x.com/BolsonaroSP/status/1574210404020092929?s=20&t=cJnFFBBj9kwLqDS4EBGvWA, archived at archive.today, February 9, 2026 capture, archive.ph/wip/9il1J; Oliver Holmes, “Italy Election: Far-Right Brothers of Italy Set to Take Power; Russia Ready for ‘Constructive Relations’ with Party—as It Happened,” The Guardian, September 26, 2022, www.theguardian.com/world/live/2022/sep/26/italy-election-result-giorgia-meloni-brothers-of-italy-far-right. 

409      lose his reelection in 2022 Brian Ellsworth and Lisandra Paraguassu, “Lula Narrowly Defeats Bolsonaro to win Brazil Presidency Again,” Reuters, October 30, 2022,  www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-votes-heated-bolsonaro-vs-lula-presidential-runoff-2022-10-30/. 

409      met with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss strategy Elizabeth Dwoskin and Gabriela Sá Pessoa, “Trump Aides Bannon, Miller Advising the Bolsonaros on Next Steps,” Washington Post, November 23, 2022, www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/11/23/brazil-bolsonaro-bannon/. 

409      alleging . . . could be hijacked Diane Jeantet, “Brazilian Voters Bombarded with Misinformation Before Vote,” Associated Press (AP) News, October 25, 2022, apnews.com/article/jair-bolsonaro-caribbean-social-media-brazil-b75e51f515b0a708800198afa1b8601d; and Diane Jeantet and Carla Bridi, "Explainer: Bolsonaro Knocks Brazil’s Voting System,” AP News, September 6, 2022, apnews.com/article/jair-bolsonaro-caribbean-voting-donald-trump-elections-fb592d5165e5bb07c0426199d86b5787. 

409      So did his network of . . .Jeantet and Bridi, "Explainer: Bolsonaro Knocks Brazil’s Voting System,” apnews.com/article/jair-bolsonaro-caribbean-voting-donald-trump-elections-fb592d5165e5bb07c0426199d86b5787; and Bruno Meyerfeld and Anna Vigna, “Brazil Election: A Disinformation Machine in Full Swing,” Le Monde, September 27, 2022, www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/09/27/brazil-election-a-disinformation-machine-in-full-swing_5998322_4.html. 

409      spread Bolsonaro’s disinformation on . . . Lori Regattieri and Débora Salles, “Election Manipulation in Brazil’s 2022 General Elections,” Mozilla Foundation, February 27, 2024, www.mozillafoundation.org/en/research/library/global-elections-casebook/brazil-case-study/; and Patrícia Rossini, et al., “Explaining Beliefs in Electoral Misinformation in the 2022 Brazilian Election: The role of Ideology, Political Trust, Social Media, and Messaging Apps,” Misinformation Review, Harvard Kennedy School, May 16, 2023, misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/explaining-beliefs-in-electoral-misinformation-in-the-2022-brazilian-election-the-role-of-ideology-political-trust-social-media-and-messaging-apps/. 

409      dismissed the integrity . . . since 2014, when he was a congressman Jack Nicas et al., “How Bolsonaro Built the Myth of Stolen Elections in Brazil,” New York Times, October 25, 2022, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/10/25/world/americas/brazil-bolsonaro-misinformation.html. 

409      amplified his disinformation Bruno Benevides, “Russian Hackers Are Trying To Interfere in Brazilian Elections, Cybersecurity Firm Says,” Folha De S. Paulo, October 5, 2018, www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/world/2018/10/russian-hackers-are-trying-to-interfere-in-brazilian-elections-cybersecurity-firm-says.shtml. 

409      never found evidence of election fraud Nicas et al., “How Bolsonaro Built the Myth of Stolen Elections in Brazil,” www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/10/25/world/americas/brazil-bolsonaro-misinformation.html. 

409–410  kept promising to share evidence Nicas et al., “How Bolsonaro Built the Myth of Stolen Elections in Brazil,” www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/10/25/world/americas/brazil-bolsonaro-misinformation.html. 

410       invited dozens of foreign diplomats . . . André Spigariol and Jack Nicas, “Bolsonaro Gathers Foreign Diplomats to Cast Doubt on Brazil’s Elections,” New York Times, July 19, 2022, www.nytimes.com/2022/07/19/world/americas/brazil-bolsonaro-election-fraud-claim.html. 

410       suggested . . . closer involvement of Brazil’s military . . .election security Spigariol and Nicas, “Bolsonaro Gathers Foreign Diplomats to Cast Doubt on Brazil’s Elections” www.nytimes.com/2022/07/19/world/americas/brazil-bolsonaro-election-fraud-claim.html. 

410       shaking at the prospects of a military coup Spigariol and Nicas, “Bolsonaro Gathers Foreign Diplomats to Cast Doubt on Brazil’s Elections” www.nytimes.com/2022/07/19/world/americas/brazil-bolsonaro-election-fraud-claim.html. 

410       “I have seen very few leaders as exceptional . . .” Viktor Orbán quoted in Jair M. Bolsonaro, Twitter, October 1, 2022, 9:27 a.m., x.com/jairbolsonaro/status/1576202106960158720, 00:08–00:17, via Google Translate.

410       “We are talking about a president who . . .” Orbán quoted in Bolsonaro, Twitter, October 1, 2022, x.com/jairbolsonaro/status/1576202106960158720, 00:41–0:50.

410       losing . . . to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Ellsworth and Paraguassu, “Lula Narrowly Defeats Bolsonaro to win Brazil Presidency Again,” www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-votes-heated-bolsonaro-vs-lula-presidential-runoff-2022-10-30/. 

410       did not concede defeat “Brazilian Judge Rejects Attempt to Overturn Lula Election Victory,” Al Jazeera, November 24, 2022, www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/24/brazilian-judge-rejects-attempt-to-overturn-lula-election-victory. 

410       employed a firehose of disinformation online about electoral fraud Jack Nicas, “Brazil Counted All Its Votes in Hours: It Still Faced Fraud Claims,” New York Times, November 10, 2022, www.nytimes.com/2022/11/10/world/americas/brazil-election-fraud.html; and Nicas, et al., “How Bolsonaro Built the Myth of Stolen Elections in Brazil,” www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/10/25/world/americas/brazil-bolsonaro-misinformation.html. 

410       unsuccessfully appealed . . . throw out 280,000 votes . . . “Brazilian Judge Rejects Attempt to Overturn Lula Election Victory,” www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/24/brazilian-judge-rejects-attempt-to-overturn-lula-election-victory. 

410       tens of thousands . . . in more than twenty Brazilian cities Dwoskin and Sá Pessoa, “Trump Aides Bannon, Miller Advising the Bolsonaros on Next Steps,” www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/11/23/brazil-bolsonaro-bannon/. 

410       set up encampments . . . Brasília Dwoskin and Sá Pessoa, “Trump Aides Bannon, Miller Advising the Bolsonaros on Next Steps www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/11/23/brazil-bolsonaro-bannon/. 

410       called on military commanders to overthrow Lula “Brazil Riot: Pro-Bolsonaro Riots Laid Bare Threat to Brazilian Democracy,” New York Times, January 9, 2023, www.nytimes.com/live/2023/01/09/world/brazil-congress-riots-bolsonaro?smid=url-share. 

410       apparently plotted to assassinate Lula Ana Ionova, “Lula Was Target of Assassination Plot, Brazilian Police Say,” New York Times, November 19, 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/11/19/world/americas/brazil-soldiers-president-lula-assassination-plot.html.

410       arrested two years later Ionova, “Lula was Target of Assassination Plot, Brazilian Police Say,” www.nytimes.com/2024/11/19/world/americas/brazil-soldiers-president-lula-assassination-plot.html.

410       ratified Lula’s election Thiago Alves, “Brazil’s Lula Defends Democracy in Certification Speech,” Brazil Reports,December 12, 2022, brazilreports.com/brazils-lula-defends-democracy-in-certification-speech/3374. 

410       inaugurated President Lula on January 1, 2023 Tara John et al., “Lula da Silva Sworn In as Brazil’s President Amid Fears of Violence from Bolsonaro Supporters,“ CNN, January 1, 2023, edition.cnn.com/2023/01/01/americas/brazil-lula-da-silva-inauguration-intl/index.html. 

410       fled to the safe harbor of Orlando Ueslei Marcelino, “Brazil’s Bolsonaro Lands in Florida, Avoiding Lula Handover,” Reuters, December 31, 2022, hwww.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-bolsonaro-says-no-justification-attempted-terrorist-act-capital-2022-12-30/; and Carrie Kahn and Alex Leff, “Bolsonaro Lays Low in Florida as Brazil Cracks Down on Riots by His Supporters,” NPR, January 10, 2023, npr.org/2023/01/09/1147842978/brazil-arrests-brasilia-riots-bolsonaro-hospital. 

411        as many as a hundred buses Kahn and Leff, “Bolsonaro Lays Low in Florida as Brazil Cracks Down on Riots by His Supporters”; and Elizabeth Dwoskin, “Come to the ‘War Cry Party’: How Social Media Helped Drive Mayhem in Brazil,” Washington Post, January 9, 2023, www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/01/08/brazil-bolsanaro-twitter-facebook/. 

411        “patriots” . . . “Liberty Caravans” to the nation’s capital Elizabeth Dwoskin of the Washington Post referred to organizers who posted about “liberty caravans” on Telegram. Quoted in Dwoskin, “Come to the ‘War Cry Party’: How Social Media Helped Drive Mayhem in Brazil,” www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/01/08/brazil-bolsanaro-twitter-facebook/. 

411        discussed all week long . . . “Festa de Selma” Dwoskin, “Come to the ‘War Cry Party’: How Social Media Helped Drive Mayhem in Brazil,” www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/01/08/brazil-bolsanaro-twitter-facebook/. 

411        as a war cry Dwoskin, “Come to the ‘War Cry Party’: How Social Media Helped Drive Mayhem in Brazil,” www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/01/08/brazil-bolsanaro-twitter-facebook/. 

411        about 200 people to more than 4,000 Andreza Matais, “More Than 100 Buses Arrive in Brasília and the Government Promises to Take Tougher Action Against Extremists,” O Estado de S. Paulo, January 7, 2023,  www.estadao.com.br/politica/mas-de-100-onibus-chegam-a-brasilia-neste-sabado-e-governo-promete-endurecer-contra-extremistas/, via Google Translate; and Alan Yuhas, “What We Know About the Investigations into the Brazil Protests,” New York Times, January 9, 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/01/09/world/americas/brazil-protests-investigation.html. 

411        marched from the Army Headquarters toward the Three Powers Plaza Katie Polglase et al., “‘Command Your Troops, Damn It!’: How a Series of Security Failures Opened a Path to Insurrection in Brazil,” CNN, January 14, 2023, www.cnn.com/2023/01/14/americas/brazil-congress-riots-timeline-intl-latam; and Naiara Galarraga Gortázar, “Bolsonaro Supporters Storm Brazil’s Congress,” El País English, January 8, 2023, english.elpais.com/international/2023-01-08/bolsonaro-supporters-storm-brazils-congress.html. 

411        The seat of Brazil’s federal government . . . Polglase et al., “‘Command Your Troops, Damn It!’: How a Series of Security Failures Opened a Path to Insurrection in Brazil,” www.cnn.com/2023/01/14/americas/brazil-congress-riots-timeline-intl-latam.

411        was out of town . . . not in session . . . not meeting AQ Editors, “Reaction: Brazil’s Capital Invasion: What’s Next?” Americas Quarterly, January 9, 2023, americasquarterly.org/article/reaction-brazils-capital-lives-its-january-invasion/; and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Twitter, January 3, 2023, 4:06 p.m., x.com/LulaOficial/status/1612194109938360320. 

411        arrived at the Three Powers Plaza Polglase et al., “‘Command Your Troops, Damn It!’: How a Series of Security Failures Opened a Path to Insurrection in Brazil,” www.cnn.com/2023/01/14/americas/brazil-congress-riots-timeline-intl-latam; and Gortázar, “Bolsonaro Supporters Storm Brazil’s Congress,” english.elpais.com/international/2023-01-08/bolsonaro-supporters-storm-brazils-congress.html. 

411        quickly overran the police barriers . . . Polglase et al., “‘Command Your Troops, Damn It!’: How a Series of Security Failures Opened a Path to Insurrection in Brazil,” www.cnn.com/2023/01/14/americas/brazil-congress-riots-timeline-intl-latam.

411        invade El Salvador’s legislative chamber Víctor Peña and Carlos Barrera, “The Day the Commander-in-Chief Militarized the Legislative Assembly,” El Faro, February 10,” elfaro.net/es/202002/ef_foto/24005/El-d%C3%ADa-que-el-comandante-en-jefe-militariz%C3%B3-la-Asamblea-Legislativa.htm.

411        Only twenty-two of the eighty-four lawmakers Anna-Catherine Brigida and Mary Beth Sheridan, “Showdown in El Salvador Shows Growing Role of Military in Latin American Democracies,” Washington Post, February 11, 2020, wapo.st/3S6jh3r. 

411        take up positions around . . . the Blue Room Peña and Barrera, “The Day the Commander-in-Chief Militarized the Legislative Assembly,” elfaro.net/es/202002/ef_foto/24005/El-d%C3%ADa-que-el-comandante-en-jefe-militariz%C3%B3-la-Asamblea-Legislativa.htm; and Scott Neuman, “Troops Occupy El Salvador’s Legislature To Back President’s Crime Package,” NPR, February 10, 2020, www.npr.org/2020/02/10/804407503/troops-occupy-el-salvadors-legislature-to-back-president-s-crime-package. 

411        named for the blue-walled meeting venue . . . between 1906 and 1974 “The National Palace has reopened its doors and this is what its interior looks like,” El Mundo, August 3, 2024, diario.elmundo.sv/nacionales/el-palacio-nacional-reabrio-sus-puertas-y-asi-luce-su-interior, via Google Translate. To see a photo of the original Blue Room, visit, “The National Palace of El Salvador,” Historical Marker Database, last updated October 3, 2022, accessed December 5, 2025, www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=95011. 

411        Berlin on March 23, 1933 Ian Kershaw, Hitler: A Biography (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2008), 281-282. Find the library book at search.worldcat.org/title/500873821.

411–412 surrounded Germany’s parliament . . .whipped up enough votes for the Enabling Act Kershaw, Hitler: A Biography, 281–282. Find the library book at search.worldcat.org/title/500873821.

412       “I want to ask you to allow me . . .” Bukele quoted in Martínez, “‘Now I Think It’s Very Clear Who’s in Control of the Situation,’” elfaro.net/es/202002/el_salvador/24006/“Ahora-creo-que-está-muy-claro-quién-tiene-el-control-de-la-situación”.htm.

412       “Do you allow me?” Bukele quoted in Martínez, “‘Now I Think It’s Very Clear Who’s in Control of the Situation,’” elfaro.net/es/202002/el_salvador/24006/“Ahora-creo-que-está-muy-claro-quién-tiene-el-control-de-la-situación”.htm.

412       “Yes!” Crowd quoted in Martínez, “‘Now I Think It’s Very Clear Who’s in Control of the Situation,’” elfaro.net/es/202002/el_salvador/24006/“Ahora-creo-que-está-muy-claro-quién-tiene-el-control-de-la-situación”.htm.

412       “God bless you, Salvadoran people” Bukele quoted in Martínez, “‘Now I Think It’s Very Clear Who’s in Control of the Situation,’” elfaro.net/es/202002/el_salvador/24006/“Ahora-creo-que-está-muy-claro-quién-tiene-el-control-de-la-situación”.htm.

412       “Please wait for me here . . . ” Bukele quoted in Martínez, “‘Now I Think It’s Very Clear Who’s in Control of the Situation,’” elfaro.net/es/202002/el_salvador/24006/“Ahora-creo-que-está-muy-claro-quién-tiene-el-control-de-la-situación”.htm.