“We are cheering for Trump… When he left (power) look at the disgrace the world became,” said the far-right politician to the press in Sao Paulo.
Also on that day, Bolsonaro spoke with the Brazilian woman who was served at a fast food chain by Trump, in the state of Pennsylvania.
In the video, released by the Republican’s presidential campaign team, the young woman makes a specific request: “Don’t let the United States become Brazil.”
After the video went viral, Bolsonaro announced that he spoke by phone with the firearms instructor in the northern country. Trump endorsed Bolsonaro in the 2022 presidential election, who lost to former labor leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Earlier, in November 2021, Lula told reporters at the European Parliament that the former paratrooper was a bad copy of Trump.
For analysts, the comparison between the two is based on several aspects of political style and strategies, but some consider the Brazilian a bad duplicate due to key differences in execution and context.
The two politicians use a populist discourse, appealing to nationalism.
According to sources, while Trump has a more calculated approach in his use of the media and his ability to generate attention, Bolsonaro is often criticized for a lack of coherence in his speeches and for poorly articulated comments.
On the other hand, Trump faced a series of crises, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, with a strategy that combined denial with a focus on the economy.
Bolsonaro also adopted a similar stance of downplaying the virus, but in Brazil the consequences were more devastating, with a widespread perception of chaotic and irresponsible management, which aggravated the public health crisis.
Similarly, Trump demonstrates a certain ability to mobilize followers, maintain a constant media presence and capitalize on popular culture.
Bolsonaro, although he has cultivated a loyal base, has not had the same success in terms of global projection or in the management of his personal image, often being perceived as a clumsier and more radical version of the Republican politician’s strategy.
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