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President Trump and MAGA-world influencers are echoing Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro's claims of a rigged election after the Trump-aligned populist fell to the incumbent president in Sunday's election. The big picture: President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's runoff victory has been widely seen as a counterweight to the global right's surge in Latin America. But Bolsonaro, like his father , isn't accepting defeat. What they're saying: "It looked like another rigged election, frankly," Trump told reporters Monday. He added, "Elections have to be indisputable, and it looked very bad to me." The White House referred Axios to Trump's comments when asked to respond. Friction point: Bolsonaro told reporters it was "impossible to recognize the result of this election in the context of how these things have happened," according to a translation . He also vowed to ask for the results to be annulled. Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin's two-hour extension to Sunday's voting has fueled Bolsonaro's claims. Zanin previously served as Lula's lawyer. But both Bolsonaro and Lula's camps requested more time for voters. Lula's team requested the extension because of public transit issues, while Bolsonaro sought additional time in certain states because of weather, Bloomberg reported . The extension was reportedly given as many polling stations were already wrapping up. Multiple outlets noted that the decision risked setting the stage for candidates to dispute the results, despite Brazil's voting system being widely recognized for its reliability. Zoom out: Several prominent voices in the online MAGA movement backed Bolsonaro's refusal to accept the election results, and some urged the Trump administration to act. "The math just ain't mathin'," podcaster Benny Johnson said in a Monday edition of his show where he criticized the election results. He was joined by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who argued Brazil looked like "a banana republic." Former Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon urged the administration to sever ties with Brazil on his "War Room" show, adding, "if we don't take action ... it's happening next Tuesday here in this country." Jack Posobiec echoed Bannon's unfounded claims, writing on X, "Look at what the Left is doing in Brazil in broad daylight. Do you really think they wouldn't in the United States?" Andrew Kolvet, who produced "The Charlie Kirk Show," said the U.S. should "quietly pressure them behind the scenes" and not accept the result. He further urged Bolsonaro supporters not to show up for work and "rally in the streets." What we're watching: The attention on Bolsonaro's loss comes as MAGA activists have pushed for Trump to take extraordinary measures, like martial law, if they think the U.S. election is rigged, Axios' Brittany Gibson reports . Trump has continued to stoke the coals of election denialism, while political opponents have accused his administration of trying to intimidate voters and election officials. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has waged an aggressive pre-election offensive, including a preemptive request that could delay certification of Alaska's Senate results and a lawsuit against California over alleged suspected noncitizens receiving ballots. Go deeper: Trump allies fall in two elections as Netanyahu faces next test

President Trump said Monday that Brazil's runoff election looked "rigged" and "corrupt" after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pulled off a stunning comeback victory against opponent Flavio Bolsonaro.

Flávio Bolsonaro’s loss is a setback for President Donald Trump’s bid to elevate like-minded leaders across the globe.

US President Donald Trump said Brazil’s runoff election looked “rigged,” after that country’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, pulled off a stunning comeback victory against challenger Flávio Bolsonaro.

A fourth presidential victory gives Lula another chance to defend democracy, protect the Amazon and deliver for Brazil’s working people Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s win in Brazil’s presidential election is a triumph for him, his country and the world. The 80-year-old incumbent snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, blocked the rise of the far right and saved the planetary air-conditioning system of the Amazon from irreparable destruction . Known universally as Lula, he made history by becoming the first candidate to win a presidential run-off after finishing second in the opening round. In triumphing against Flávio Bolsonaro, the leftist stopped what could have been the most dangerous consolidation of authoritarian rule in Brazil since military rule ended. A Bolsonaro presidency could have used a rightwing Congress to extend presidential terms and pack the supreme court, entrenching power for generations. Lula seemed to have been energised by his first-round defeat by Mr Bolsonaro. The three-time president initially pitted his extraordinary life and record against a 45-year-old senator married to controversy . But voters wanted answers to economic insecurity, rising prices and poor public services. Lula reversed course in the second round, offering immediate relief from everyday costs and indebtedness – including to the rising number of self-employed voters whom his rightwing opponent had been courting. Popular mobilisation transformed the runoff into a race to stop a Bolsonaro restoration with student protests , mass demonstrations and a 10 million-strong “ Lula’s Army ” WhatsApp channel. It seemed to work. Nearly 5 million more people voted in the second round of the Brazilian election than the first. Continue reading...

A pair of Trump-friendly right-wing populists took a one-two punch Sunday: Brazil rejected a Bolsonaro comeback, and Serbia toppled a strongman's ruling party. The big picture: Brazil denied Trump a close ally at the helm of Latin America's largest economy, snapping a streak of seven straight conservative wins in the region. In Europe, Serbia and Hungary toppled leaders with close Trump ties who had dominated their countries for years. Now, another massively pivotal election looms Tuesday, when Trump ally , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will face a battle for political survival . On the eve of the election, Netanyahi touted Trump's endorsement and his "friendship" with the American president. But as the global right has made gains, opposition forces proved this weekend that they still have fuel. Driving the news: In Brazil, leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva staved off a challenge from Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro . The younger Bolsonaro, widely seen as the heir to his father's populist movement, refused to concede and called for the results to be annulled, according to translations . The elder Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year sentence after being convicted of plotting a coup to overturn his 2022 loss . Trump has called the prosecution a "WITCH HUNT." The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment on the race. Between the lines: Brazil's election emerged as a test of Trump's political influence in Latin America, where right-wing and Trump-backed candidates have celebrated an uninterrupted series of wins . Those victories include Trump-endorsed Abelardo de la Espriella in Colombia , Nasry "Tito" Asfura in Honduras and José Antonio Kast in Chile . Trump did not formally endorse Flávio Bolsonaro, but he met with him earlier this year and imposed ignificant tariffs on Brazil as he protested the charges against Bolsonaro's father. Lula is a vocal Trump critic. In March, Flávio Bolsonaro told an audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference that America faced a "fork in the road" in the election: "Either you have the most powerful ally in the hemisphere, or an antagonist." Zoom out: Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, a student-led opposition movement toppled the right-wing party of long-serving strongman Aleksandar Vučić, who was seeking to become prime minister. Unlike the Bolsonaros, Vučić conceded defeat Sunday. The Balkan leader had courted Trump's inner circle, including Donald Trump Jr., and described the president as a "kindred spirit." It reflects the shifting tides that also allowed next-door Hungary to oust Trump-allied Viktor Orbán , once one of the Western world's most entrenched populist leaders, in April after 16 years in power. Yes, but: Europe's political upheaval is cutting both ways: While the populist right has fallen in Serbia and Hungary, it's gaining ground in two of the continent's largest economies. In France, far-right presidential frontrunner Marine Le Pen launched her 2027 campaign this weekend, seizing on nationwide unrest to pitch her tough-on-crime, anti-migrant agenda. In Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany won a record 44% in a state election last month and continues to lead in national polls. What we're watching: Trump's historic move of endorsing Netanyahu in Tuesday's Israeli elections will once again test his influence abroad. Tuesday's election in Israel is set to be tight for Netanyahu, who has sought to elevate Trump's endorsement as he jockeys with former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot . The 77-year-old Netanyahu has been prime minister for some 19 years in nonconsecutive terms. Analysts see the election as a referendum on the security failure of Oct. 7, 2023, that killed around 1,200 people. Whoever governs Israel could shape Trump's next moves in the Middle East — including whether to escalate the war in Iran. Go deeper: Lula v. Bolsonaro: Brazil election unfolds in Trump's shadow

Regional and world leaders congratulated Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after he defeated challenger Flavio Bolsonaro to win an unprecedented fourth term.

Leaders and governments worldwide congratulate Lula on dramatic comeback seen as an important signal to rest of Latin America Lula supporters celebrate election victory – in pictures Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , the Brazilian president, has vowed that dictatorship and fascism will never return to Brazil after winning a historic fourth term in power by defeating his far-right opponent, Flávio Bolsonaro. “This is God’s work – and it’s thanks to all of you,” Lula told tens of thousands of supporters who had gathered in central São Paulo in the early hours of Monday to celebrate his dramatic election comeback. Continue reading...

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva came from behind to win Brazil’s runoff election, halting a right-wing wave sweeping Latin America and defying predictions. But his opponent, Flávio Bolsonaro is contesting the results. Beatriz Reis explains why the election isn't really quite over (Source: Bloomberg)

After the rejoicing, it will be vital to learn the lessons. The rightward shift is neither inevitable nor irreversible, but progressives cannot rest for a moment The impossible happened. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a fourth term in Sunday’s runoff election in Brazil, overturning Flávio Bolsonaro’s first-round lead in a historic comeback. No candidate has ever lost the first round and won the second, until now. Grassroots mobilisation, alongside social welfare policies, helped turn the contest into a referendum on Brazilian democracy, rallying voters against a candidate seeking to restore the legacy of his father, Jair Bolsonaro, imprisoned for plotting a coup after his 2022 defeat. Lula’s victory suggests that defending democracy can still be a powerful electoral argument against the ascendant right. Having already consolidated most of the leftwing vote, Lula had limited room to attract supporters of other candidates after his first-round defeat. His best chance lay in mobilising abstainers and reconnecting with working-class voters. The Workers’ party intensified its grassroots and digital campaigns, using social media influencers and messaging networks to reach supporters. Nearly 3 million more Brazilians voted in the runoff, and Lula gained ground across the country, particularly in major cities and his north-eastern strongholds. He also appealed to voters’ immediate economic concerns, drawing on a record of reducing poverty and inequality, and increasing benefits under Bolsa Família , the landmark welfare programme he launched in 2003. Lula framed the election as a choice between protecting social gains and democratic institutions, or returning to the Bolsonaro family’s attacks on both, warning that his opponent would compromise Brazil’s sovereignty by aligning himself with Donald Trump. Jordana Timerman is a journalist based in Buenos Aires. She is the managing editor of The Ideas Letter and compiles the Latin America Daily Briefing Continue reading...

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a vocal critic of President Trump, was reelected Sunday in a runoff over right-wing opponent Flávio Bolsonaro, who is refusing to concede defeat.

Bolsonaro quickly refused to concede defeat and asked for the election results to be annulled after an evening of chaos at some polling places that followed a last-minute decision to extend voting by two hours.

Flavio Bolsonaro is refusing to concede defeat to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who won a fourth term in Sunday's presidential election. Bolsonaro said he would seek to annul the election...

Flavio Bolsonaro is refusing to concede defeat to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who won a fourth term in Sunday's presidential election.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a record fourth term in office, defeating far-right challenger Flávio Bolsonaro by 4 million votes in a runoff election on Sunday. Flávio Bolsonaro is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who remains under house arrest for plotting a coup against Lula four years ago. The younger Bolsonaro, who narrowly defeated Lula in the first round of voting earlier this month, is now refusing to concede. Lula’s surprise comeback comes after weeks of student-led organizing and campaigning on his behalf, and amid accusations that U.S.-based tech companies were suppressing Lula’s reach online in favor of his Trump-aligned opponent. “The amount of organizing, the amount of marches and rallies, campaigning, pamphlets that we’ve seen the last three weeks has been something that I have never seen in my entire life, ever, covering elections for decades in so many different countries. It is absolutely unprecedented,” says Brazil-based journalist Michael Fox. “It is an absolute game-changer for the region.”

Nur Cristiani, head of Latin America investment strategy at JPMorgan Private Bank, examines the market implications of the Brazilian election after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat Flávio Bolsonaro, the right-wing candidate that many investors preferred. She speaks on “Bloomberg Surveillance.” (Source: Bloomberg)

Brazil's left-wing president, Lula da Silva, won a fourth term on Sunday, defeating conservative challenger Flavio Bolsonaro after a close race.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pulled off a stunning comeback to win Brazil’s runoff election, defeating right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro, who has called for the vote to be annulled. Julia Leite reports from Sao Paulo on Bloomberg Television. (Source: Bloomberg)

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva came from behind to win Brazil’s runoff election, halting a right-wing wave sweeping Latin America. His opponent Flávio Bolsonaro called for the vote to be annulled. Fabiola De Moura has the details. (Source: Bloomberg)

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva narrowly triumphed over Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of the right-wing leader he defeated four years ago.

Flávio Bolsonaro called for the annulment of Brazil’s presidential runoff after losing the election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, an improbable bid to overturn the result that echoes his father’s response to defeat four years ago.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil’s runoff election with 51.76% of the vote to Flávio Bolsonaro’s 48.24%. Bloomberg's Asia Trade looks at the market reaction. (Source: Bloomberg)

Brazil's 80-year-old left-wing leader President Lula defeats Flávio Bolsonaro in a bitterly contested runoff.

Brazilians are choosing between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro in a polarizing presidential election.

Brazilians voted in a tight runoff that could move the nation sharply right, bringing it closer to the U.S. amid a broader conservative shift across the region.