US President Donald Trump on Thursday stepped up criticism of Brazil’s election, calling the outcome “disgraceful” and declining to state whether he recognized leftist candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as president after right-wing rival Flavio Bolsonaro claimed victory.
“I think the election was a disgrace in Brazil,” Trump told reporters when asked if he accepted Lula’s victory. “I don’t want to comment on it right now, but I thought the election was a very great embarrassment to the people of Brazil… I thought it was a very disgraceful situation for Brazil.”
Trump made the remarks a day after his ally Flavio Bolsonaro traveled to the United States on exile from Brazil and proclaimed himself the rightful leader.
