Eduardo Bolsonaro: provocateur stokes US‑Brazil flare
Eduardo Bolsonaro: The Lawyer Turning Brazil’s Politics Into a Personal Battle
Who the 41‑Year‑Old Is
Eduardo Bolsonaro, a lawyer by training and a perennial headline maker, is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The father‑son pair share a right‑wing circle that includes a deep hatred of communism, a fondness for weapons and a skeptical view of climate science.
From Lagos to the Lower House: A Career Marked by Controversy
Eduardo entered the Brazilian Senate in 2015 at age 30, promising to emulate his controversial father. He holds the record for the most votes ever received by a congressman in Brazil, a total of 1.8 million in 2018.
In that same year, he openly declared that it would take a “soldier and a corporal” to shut down Brazil’s Supreme Court, a statement that drew criticism from a former senior official of his father’s government who described Eduardo as a “provocateur”.
He is the third of five siblings: brothers Flavio (senator), Carlo and Renan (city councilors). He is often called “zero three” for his birth order.
Why He is a “Traitor” in the Eyes of Some
In 2024, the United States announced a 50 percent tariff on many Brazilian exports, claiming it was a “witch hunt” against the younger Bolsonaro. Washington also slapped financial sanctions on the presiding judge in the coup case, Alexandre de Moraes of Brazil’s Supreme Court.
Eduardo publicly praised the sanctions as a “historic” blow against “judicial persecution.” The tweet, posted on X, was followed by thousands of supporters who thanked Trump for elevating pressure on his father.
Why Brazilians Are Divided
- Left‑wing leader Lula da Silva called Eduardo a “traitor to the nation.”
- Presiding judge Alexandre de Moraes labeled his actions “cobardice” and “treachery.”
- Folha de S. Paulo editorial called him an “enemy of Brazil” who “does everything to defend his own family, without caring about national interests.”
- São Paulo governor Tarcisio de Freitas worried about the tariff impact on the state, Brazil’s richest and most populous.
A Litter of Legal Trouble
Because of his lobbying efforts, Eduardo Bolsonaro is now the target of an investigation ordered by judge Alexandre de Moraes, investigating obstruction of justice in his father’s trial.
Ready for Presidency?
Eduardo frequently shares images on X with American right‑wing figures—Trump’s sons, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Judge Jeanine Pirro, businessman Mike Lindell, actor Jon Voight, and former strategist Steve Bannon. He even posted photos from June’s Mar‑a‑Lago event.
He declares himself “ready” to run for Brazil’s presidency if the “green light” comes from his father. Political scientists note, however, that his U.S. lobbying has earned him widespread disapproval and that he stands a high risk of arrest if he returns to Brazil now.
Bottom Line
Eduardo Bolsonaro’s life is a complex blend of legal expertise, fraternal loyalty, and divisive politics. Whether he will move from the Senate into the presidency—or become a casualty of the very actions he defends—remains uncertain.
