Democrats, world leaders congratulate Trump critic Lula on reelection in Brazil

Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. and world leaders congratulated Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, commonly known as Lula and an outspoken critic of President Trump, for winning an unprecedented fourth term on Sunday.

Lula defeated Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of Brazil’s former far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup after he lost the 2022 presidential election to Lula.

Lawmakers in the U.S. more aligned with Lula’s brand of left-wing politics praised his victory and what it represents for the western hemisphere.

“Yesterday, Brazil showed the world that the will of the people is stronger than the authoritarians who try to suppress it. Congratulations President @LulaOficial and congratulations Brazil,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) wrote on the social platform X.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D), who hosted Lula during a state visit last month, used the English translation of a Latin American protest slogan, made famous by Chilean left-wing composer Sergio Ortega Alvarado and the folk group Quilapayún, in congratulating the Brazilian leader.

“The people united will never be defeated! Congratulations, President Lula,” Mamdani wrote on X.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who caucuses with Democrats, also praised Lula’s........

© The Hill