US President Donald Trump has questioned the outcome of Brazil's presidential election, describing it as resembling "another rigged election" after Luiz
Inácio Lula da Silva defeated Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of Trump's ally and former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump criticized the decision to extend voting hours during Sunday's runoff, calling it "very strange." However, he said he would not intervene in Brazil's political affairs. "It looked terrible to me. It looked like another rigged election, frankly… I didn't take sides, but it was a terrible look," Trump said. He added, "I'm not running Brazil. I'm running the US. I like Lula. I get along with him very well."
Trump on Brazil elections: "It looked like another rigged election, frankly. I didn't take sides, but it was a terrible look for the world. Elections have to be indisputable, and it looked very bad to me." https://t.co/KOSfocAXDk
— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) October 26, 2026
Lula Wins Fourth Presidential Term
Brazil's electoral court confirmed Lula's victory after all votes were counted. The incumbent secured 51.8% of the vote, defeating Flávio Bolsonaro by nearly 4.4 million votes.
The result allows Lula, who will soon turn 81, to begin another presidential term on January 5, 2027. His victory also leaves Brazil and Mexico, Latin America's two most populous countries, with left-of-center leaders.
Lula's win comes amid a broader regional trend of right-of-center candidates allied with Trump gaining ground in Latin America. Brazil, the region's largest economy, is set to remain under a left-wing government despite pressure from increased US tariffs imposed by Trump.
Why Were Voting Hours Extended?
The election was marked by confusion after Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ordered polling stations to remain open for an additional two hours on Sunday.
Lula's campaign requested an extension after reporting bus shortages in at least nine states, including São Paulo and Salvador, which tend to favor the incumbent. Bolsonaro's campaign also sought more time, citing heavy rain in southern Brazil, where his candidate was favored.
The decision delayed the vote count. Reports from polling stations described uncertainty over whether voting operations needed to continue, while some voting machines had already been switched off and could not be restarted.
After Lula's victory was confirmed, Flávio Bolsonaro refused to concede defeat and called for the results to be annulled, describing the extension as unprecedented. Both candidates had requested additional voting time.
Election Result Marks Political Setback For Bolsonaro Camp
Flávio Bolsonaro had finished ahead of Lula by more than 2.2 million votes in the first round earlier in October. Lula subsequently reorganized his campaign, appealed to younger voters and urged supporters to defend democratic values and his political legacy.
The result marks a significant setback for the Bolsonaro camp and comes as Trump has increased his focus on Latin America.
Lula, a former union leader who helped establish the Workers' Party, previously served two consecutive presidential terms before returning to office after narrowly defeating Jair Bolsonaro in 2022.
The latest election has also highlighted divisions within Brazil over the economy, security, and the country's political direction. Bolsonaro supporters have expressed concerns about the economic consequences of another Lula administration, while the incumbent's victory has brought relief to critics of expanding US influence in the region.
