Brazil has found itself at the center of a political and social storm in the wake of two seismic events: the conviction of former President Jair Bolsonaro for plotting a coup d’état and his subsequent cancer diagnosis, and a sweeping crackdown on leftist and democratic voices following the assassination of American far-right figure Charlie Kirk. These developments, unfolding almost simultaneously, have sent shockwaves through the nation’s political landscape and ignited fierce debate over the future of democracy and free expression in Brazil.
On September 14, 2025, Jair Bolsonaro, the controversial former president, underwent a procedure to remove skin lesions. Days later, doctors at DF Star Hospital in Brasilia confirmed that tests revealed an early form of skin cancer—specifically, squamous cell carcinoma, described as “in situ,” meaning the abnormal cells had not spread. Dr. Claudio Biroloni, Bolsonaro’s physician, explained to CNN Brasil, “Two of the lesions tested positive for squamous cell carcinoma, which is neither the kindest nor the most aggressive, but it is still a skin cancer.”
The diagnosis, while not immediately life-threatening, requires vigilant monitoring and periodic reevaluation, according to hospital staff. Bolsonaro, who has faced repeated hospitalizations since the 2018 stabbing that nearly cost him his life, was readmitted on September 16 due to vomiting, dizziness, low blood pressure, and pre-syncope—an alarming feeling of impending fainting. He was discharged the following day but remains under close medical supervision.
This health scare comes at a precarious moment for Bolsonaro. Less than a week prior, he was convicted of orchestrating a coup attempt against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a plot prosecutors allege included discussions of assassinating Lula. The court handed Bolsonaro a sentence of more than 27 years in prison. For now, he remains under house arrest and is expected to appeal the conviction. His eldest son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, took to social media to reassure supporters: “My father has already fought tougher battles and won. This one won’t be any different.”
But the drama surrounding Bolsonaro’s fate is only one thread in a much larger tapestry of turmoil gripping Brazil. The nation is also reeling from a rapid escalation in political repression, triggered by the assassination of American extremist Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025. According to reports from Folha de São Paulo and other outlets, the Trump administration’s response to Kirk’s death has inspired a campaign in Brazil—led by right-wing allies of Bolsonaro—to stifle dissent and punish those expressing leftist or democratic views.
At the forefront of this campaign is Deputy Nikolas Ferreira of Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party (PL). On September 16, Ferreira proposed a minute of silence in the Chamber of Deputies to honor Kirk, a move that symbolized the Brazilian right’s alignment with American hardline tactics. Just days earlier, Ferreira had announced a movement on social media: “The movement has begun: fire the true extremists from your company.” He followed up with a chilling warning, “We will come after you,” and urged companies in both Brazil and the United States to dismiss employees who celebrated or supported the death of political opponents, especially public servants.
The results were swift and severe. Several Brazilians lost their jobs after their social media posts were flagged by Ferreira. Physical trainer Luís Otávio Kalil was dismissed by Arena RM in Belo Horizonte after commenting that Kirk “only preached hatred, racism, prejudice, supported genocide in Gaza. One less genocidal fascist, about time.” Arena RM issued an open letter explaining Kalil’s definitive dismissal, while Ferreira publicly praised the company’s “spectacular stance.”
In São Paulo, Pedro Guida, a cast manager at the city’s prestigious Municipal Theater, was fired for calling Kirk a “neo-Nazi” in a personal online post. The crackdown extended beyond ordinary citizens to public figures and intellectuals. Historian and journalist Eduardo Bueno, famed for his popular books and YouTube channel, found himself ostracized after posting an ironic comment about Kirk’s death. The Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul canceled a scheduled event with Bueno, stating his “stance does not align” with university values, and he was removed from the Senate Editorial Council. Senate president Davi Alcolumbre expressed regret for not acting sooner, saying, “I want to apologize to Brazil, because on the day and at the time this video came to my knowledge, I should have fired this guy.”
Bueno attempted to clarify his intentions in a follow-up video, stating, “I did not celebrate his assassination nor praise the assassin. What I wanted to say, and say again because I believe it and repeat: the world is better without certain people. And the world, in my opinion, became better without this guy’s presence.”
The purge did not spare the arts and fashion sectors. Senior stylist Zazá Percego was fired from Vogue Brasil after Ferreira accused the magazine of employing staff who “celebrate the assassination of innocents simply for expressing their ideas freely, like Charlie Kirk.” Percego defended herself, explaining her post was a metaphor related to Bolsonaro’s conviction and not an endorsement of violence. Despite her clarification, she reported suffering hundreds of racist attacks, threats of sexual violence, and the leaking of her personal and family data, forcing her to seek temporary security shelter.
Folha de São Paulo reported that this campaign of intimidation has been celebrated in online neo-Nazi circles, with extremists openly encouraging others to declare their allegiance. Ferreira himself is no stranger to controversy; his record includes spreading disinformation, making transphobic and discriminatory statements, and supporting the 2023 attacks on Brazil’s government institutions.
The links between Brazil’s right-wing movement and American political forces are unmistakable. After the January 8, 2023 coup attempt, Bolsonaro’s first public appearance was at an event organized by Kirk’s Turning Point USA in Florida. He was also interviewed on The Charlie Kirk Show. Eduardo Bolsonaro, the former president’s son, has relocated to the United States, where he coordinates with Trump administration officials and recently advocated for American intervention in Brazil, even suggesting military action.
This coordinated offensive has been matched by legislative efforts in Brazil’s Congress. Lawmakers have advanced the so-called “Amnesty” and “Shield” bills, designed to reverse convictions of January 8 coup participants and shield parliamentarians from prosecution. Meanwhile, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has directly intervened, pressuring Brazilian institutions and publicly calling for the disciplining of Supreme Court Judge Moraes, whom he accused of pursuing a political agenda.
Historian Eduardo Bueno, now a target of this crackdown, highlighted the hypocrisy at play: “But where is the freedom of expression so defended by the extreme right? I am being censored! I hope the US invades Brazil soon to defend me!”
As Brazil grapples with the fallout from Bolsonaro’s conviction and health crisis, and as the campaign to silence dissent intensifies, the country stands at a crossroads. The future of its democracy, and the very nature of public debate, hang in the balance as both internal and external forces vie for influence and control.
