Trump sends out tariff letters to 7 more countries but he avoids major US trade partners
Associated Press3 days
Trump Threatens Brazil With 50% Tariff
Above: U.S. President Donald Trump attends a lunch with visiting African Leaders in the White House on July 9, 2025. Image copyright: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
Trump's 50% tariff on Brazil targets the country's authoritarian regime that has aggressively persecuted Bolsonaro and his right-wing allies while issuing unlawful censorship orders for U.S. social media companies and aligning with China especially in digital infrastructure at the expense of Western digital security. This is a much needed pushback against attacks on democratic institutions and American values.
Anti-Trump narrative
Trump used to claim that tariffs were all about national security and reducing trade deficits. However, he has now decided to levy them against Brazil only to help an ally who, like him, sought to carry out a coup to overturn an election defeat and remain in power. This is an evil and megalomaniacal interference in domestic affairs of a foreign country — one that sets a dangerous precedent and that is likely to backfire and benefit Lula.