On December 12, 2025, the United States took a significant step in recalibrating its relationship with Brazil, removing Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, his wife, and the Lex Institute from its sanctions list. This move, confirmed by the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control, marks a turning point in diplomatic ties that had grown tense over the past year, largely due to the political aftershocks following the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro.
The sanctions, originally imposed by the Trump administration in July 2025, were justified by accusations that de Moraes had authorized arbitrary pretrial detentions and suppressed freedom of expression in Brazil. According to documents cited by the Washington Post, the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act was invoked, targeting those accused of human rights abuses and corruption. De Moraes, however, described the use of this act against him as “illegal and regrettable.”
The removal of sanctions was not an isolated gesture. It followed a weekend phone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Both leaders had been working to thaw relations, beginning with a diplomatic handshake at the United Nations General Assembly in September and continuing through a private meeting in Malaysia in October, as reported by Reuters. These efforts were described by both governments as positive steps forward.
Brazil’s government celebrated the decision. At an event in São Paulo, de Moraes declared, “This is a victory of Brazil's judiciary. Brazil's judiciary did not bow to threats, coercion and it will never do so. It carried on with unbias, seriousness and courage. It is a victory for national sovereignty. President Lula from the start said this country will not give in to any invasion to Brazil's democracy.”
The backdrop to this diplomatic drama is the ongoing saga of Jair Bolsonaro, the former Brazilian president who was often labeled the “Trump of the Tropics.” Bolsonaro, a former army captain who swept to power in 2018 with the fervent backing of Brazil’s evangelical Christians, is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence. He was convicted for masterminding a plot to remain in office after losing the 2022 election to Lula, echoing the stormy post-election period witnessed in the United States after the 2020 presidential race.
The fallout from Bolsonaro’s conviction has reverberated far beyond Brazil’s borders. His son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, a lawmaker, announced in March 2025 that he would relocate to the United States to lobby the Trump administration in hopes of securing relief for his father. After the U.S. reversed its sanctions against de Moraes, Eduardo wrote on social media, “The lack of internal cohesion and the insufficient support for initiatives pursued abroad contributed to the worsening of the current situation. We sincerely hope that President Donald Trump's decision will be successful in defending the strategic interests of the American people, as is his duty.”
Meanwhile, the story of Jair Bolsonaro is set to reach an even wider audience. As reported by Religion News Service, actor Jim Caviezel—best known for his portrayal of Jesus in Mel Gibson’s 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ”—will play Bolsonaro in an English-language biopic titled “Dark Horse,” slated for release in 2026. The film will focus on Bolsonaro’s dramatic 2018 presidential campaign, with a screenplay penned by Bolsonaro’s secretary of culture, Mário Frias, and direction by Cyrus Nowrasteh. Eduardo Verástegui, who appeared in “Sound of Freedom,” will produce the film.
Caviezel’s involvement has already stirred excitement and controversy. Since his breakout role, Caviezel has become a prominent figure among American conservatives and evangelicals, starring as anti-trafficking activist Tim Ballard in “Sound of Freedom.” That film, while popular among faith-based audiences, drew criticism for fictionalizing real-life events and for Caviezel’s outspoken promotion of conspiracy theories tied to Q-Anon, as noted by Variety.
Bolsonaro’s family has publicly embraced the project. Carlos Bolsonaro, another of the former president’s sons and a politician in his own right, posted a photo of Caviezel in costume as his father and wrote on X, “I know your legacy will continue to be admired by good people and envied by those who seek destruction – yet the message you imprint with every step leaves its mark on the world. God, Jesus, and Freedom!” Meanwhile, Heloísa Bolsonaro, married to yet another Bolsonaro son, shared a video of Caviezel’s makeup transformation for the role.
The film’s focus on Bolsonaro’s rise to power is no accident. Evangelical Christians were pivotal in his 2018 victory, and his third wife, Michelle, played a key role in connecting him with Brazil’s influential evangelical churches. Pastor Silas Malafaia, a prominent evangelical leader, remains a staunch supporter. Even now, evangelical lawmakers in Brazil’s legislature are campaigning to reduce Bolsonaro’s sentence—a cause that had the backing of President Trump until recently.
Trump’s support for Bolsonaro was not limited to words. In a July 2025 letter to Lula da Silva, Trump called Bolsonaro’s trial a “witch hunt” and threatened to impose tariffs of up to 50% on Brazilian goods entering the United States. These tariffs, which began on August 1, have since been rolled back as part of the broader normalization of relations. In November 2025, the United States removed additional import tariffs on some Brazilian agribusiness products, a move welcomed by Brazilian exporters. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States ran a $6.8 billion trade surplus with Brazil in 2024.
The improvement in diplomatic relations has not erased all tensions. Bolsonaro, now 70, began serving his sentence in November 2025 and has requested house arrest due to health concerns. Despite his incarceration, he remains a powerful political force, with many allies expecting mass protests upon his arrest—a reaction that, so far, has not materialized. As Brazil looks toward next year’s elections, Bolsonaro’s legacy and the divisions he fostered continue to shape the nation’s political landscape.
Amid these developments, President Lula has also sought to assert Brazil’s independence on the regional stage. He has urged Latin American states to help avert conflict in Venezuela, particularly as the Trump administration orders military action against vessels allegedly tied to drug cartels. Lula’s message is clear: Brazil will not yield its democratic principles to outside pressure, whether from Washington or elsewhere.
The lifting of sanctions against de Moraes and the easing of trade tensions suggest that, despite recent turbulence, the U.S.-Brazil relationship is entering a new, if still uncertain, phase. As both countries grapple with the legacies of polarizing leaders and the unpredictable tides of populist politics, the world will be watching—on the big screen and in real life.
