“Recent policies, practices, and actions of the Government of Brazil threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States,” the order read, adding that members of the government have taken actions that “infringe the free expression rights of United States persons, violate human rights, and undermine the interest the United States has in protecting its citizens and companies.”

Trump also denounced the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro, a longtime ally of the president. He said the current government was “persecuting” Bolsonaro. Analysts have viewed Bolsonaro’s trial as the casus belli that prompted Trump’s aggressive moves against the country.

“Political persecution, through drummed-up prosecutions, threatens the orderly development of Brazil’s political, administrative, and economic institutions, including undermining the ability of Brazil to hold a free and fair election of the presidency in 2026,” he said.

Justifying the actions of Brazil constituting a national security threat, Trump argued that the aforementioned moves “endanger the economy of the United States by tyrannically and arbitrarily coercing United States companies to censor political speech, turn over sensitive United States user data, or change their content moderation policies on pain of extraordinary fines, criminal prosecution, asset freezes, or complete exclusion from the Brazilian market.”

“These actions also chill and limit expression in the United States, violate human rights, and undermine the interest that the United States has in protecting its citizens and companies at home and abroad,” he added.

To combat the alleged threat, a 40% tariff was imposed on most products from Brazil, with some exceptions.

One figure specifically targeted in the order was Brazilian Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes, the man responsible for prosecuting Bolsonaro. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions against Moraes shortly before the order was announced.

“De Moraes is responsible for an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicized prosecutions — including against former President Jair Bolsonaro,” Bessent said in a statement. “Today’s action makes clear that Treasury will continue to hold accountable those who threaten U.S. interests and the freedoms of our citizens.”

Moraes has earned the ire of U.S. conservatives over his aggressive moves against social media companies, including a conflict with X that resulted in its temporary ban in the country.

The sanctions and tariffs are the Trump administration’s latest move against Brasília after its prosecution of Bolsonaro, which Trump has denounced as a “witch hunt.”

“They’re treating President Bolsonaro very unfairly. He’s a good man,” Trump said earlier this month.

In February, Brazilian Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet charged Bolsonaro with attempting a coup to overthrow Brazil’s democratic order.

The indictment alleged that prosecutors obtained extensive evidence showing Bolsonaro approved a plot to assassinate his electoral rival, current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Lula was to be poisoned, while Moraes was to be shot by special forces, according to the indictment. Though ultimately abandoned, the plotters went so far as to begin tracking Moraes’s movements, according to the New York Times.

Bolsonaro approached his indictment similarly to Trump, denouncing it as “the weaponization of the justice system” and comparing himself to the U.S. president.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES TRADE INVESTIGATION INTO BRAZIL AFTER ‘WITCH HUNT’ AGAINST BOLSONARO

The accusations are “nothing more than a desperate attempt to criminalize my political movement, silence millions of Brazilians, and rig the next election before a single vote is cast,” he continued, pointing out that he handed over power to Lula peacefully. “This is the same failed strategy that was used against President Trump.”

On July 16, the Trump administration launched a trade investigation against Brazil, ostensibly investigating unfair trade practices. It will examine concerns such as Brazilian tariffs, digital trade policies, illegal deforestation, intellectual property violations, ethanol market access, and “anti-corruption interference,” according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.