Brazilian government calls for probe into US funding of far-right causes

What the report says

Brazil’s attorney general has asked law enforcement to investigate whether the United States attempted to influence Brazilian politics by channeling money toward far-right groups. The call from Jorge Messias came on Thursday, after a Guardian report said the Trump administration had considered using US funds to support conservative civil groups in Brazil and elsewhere. Messias said the claims were serious and raised concerns about foreign interference during Brazil’s election period.

The Al Jazeera report places the request in the middle of a tight presidential race in which President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is seeking re-election and facing strong competition from the Bolsonaro political camp. Lula has repeatedly warned about external pressure on Latin American politics, while Trump has backed right-wing allies in the region and maintained close ties with former president Jair Bolsonaro and his family. Bolsonaro’s son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, is one of the leading contenders against Lula.

According to the report, the Guardian story said the Trump administration aimed to redirect $175 million from a State Department human rights fund to far-right causes, including efforts in Brazil focused on opposing what the US described as “lawfare” and censorship. The article also notes broader tensions around Bolsonaro’s 2025 conviction for involvement in an alleged coup plot, which his allies and Trump have portrayed as political persecution. The issue matters because it intersects with Brazil’s electoral integrity, judicial independence and relations with Washington.