On Saturday, August 16, 2025, Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro briefly stepped out of house arrest in Brasília, drawing the attention of both supporters and critics as he made his way to the DF Star hospital for court-approved medical examinations. The move, authorized by a judge, allowed Bolsonaro to spend up to eight hours at the hospital—a rare reprieve from the restrictions placed upon him since August 5.
Bolsonaro, a polarizing figure in Brazilian politics, has been under house arrest for violating precautionary measures connected to his ongoing Supreme Court trial. According to Associated Press reporting, the violation stemmed from his use of his three lawmaker sons to spread content, an action deemed contrary to the court’s directives. His current legal troubles center on allegations that he attempted to remain in power after losing the 2022 presidential election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s current president. A five-justice panel is expected to deliver verdicts and sentences on five counts against him between September 2 and September 12, 2025—a timeline that has the nation watching closely.
At the DF Star hospital, Bolsonaro’s visit was not without medical urgency. Doctors evaluated him for a cluster of symptoms, including fever, cough, persistent gastroesophageal reflux, and hiccups. After a series of tests, physicians reported residual signs of two recent pulmonary infections, along with persistent esophagitis and gastritis. While these findings were concerning, Bolsonaro was discharged later that day and will continue his treatment with medication at home. The hospital’s medical team did not indicate the need for further immediate intervention, but these health issues add another layer to Bolsonaro’s already complex public persona.
Bolsonaro’s health has been a recurring topic in Brazilian media since he was stabbed at a campaign rally just before the 2018 presidential election. That attack left him with long-term complications, leading to multiple hospitalizations and surgeries over the years. Most recently, in April 2025, he underwent surgery for a bowel obstruction. These health setbacks have often overlapped with political turmoil, fueling speculation and debate about his ability to remain a central figure in Brazil’s conservative movement.
Outside the hospital, a small but vocal group of fewer than 20 supporters gathered, waving banners and chanting slogans that cast Bolsonaro as a victim of political persecution. According to AP, these demonstrators expressed their gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump, who has publicly denounced the prosecution of Bolsonaro as a “witch hunt.” Trump’s comments have not gone unnoticed in Brazil; he has even linked his recent decision to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports to Bolsonaro’s legal troubles. This unusual cross-continental alliance between two former presidents has added a new dimension to the already charged atmosphere surrounding Bolsonaro’s case.
Bolsonaro, for his part, has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with the alleged attempt to overturn the 2022 election results. His legal team has argued that the charges are politically motivated, a sentiment echoed by his supporters and amplified by right-wing media in both Brazil and abroad. The Supreme Court, however, has moved forward with its proceedings, and the upcoming verdicts are expected to be a watershed moment for Brazilian democracy.
The charges against Bolsonaro are serious: they center on whether he orchestrated or encouraged efforts to subvert the electoral process after his defeat. According to AFP, the Supreme Court will soon decide whether Bolsonaro is guilty of plotting a coup—an accusation that, if proven, could have far-reaching consequences for his political future and for the broader Brazilian right. The five-justice panel’s decisions, scheduled for early September, will be closely watched not only in Brazil but also by international observers concerned about the health of democratic institutions in the region.
The context for these developments is a deeply divided Brazil. Bolsonaro’s presidency, which ran from 2019 to 2022, was marked by sharp rhetoric, controversial policies, and a combative relationship with both the judiciary and the press. His supporters see him as a champion of traditional values and a bulwark against what they perceive as leftist overreach. His detractors, on the other hand, accuse him of undermining democratic norms and fostering a climate of intolerance. The current legal proceedings have only deepened these divisions, with each side viewing the case through its own ideological lens.
Bolsonaro’s health woes have at times drawn sympathy, but they have also been weaponized in political debates. Some of his critics argue that his frequent hospitalizations are a distraction from the more pressing question of his alleged actions after the 2022 election. Supporters, meanwhile, point to his resilience in the face of both physical and political adversity as evidence of his leadership qualities. The small crowd outside DF Star hospital on Saturday was a microcosm of this ongoing struggle over Bolsonaro’s legacy.
As the Supreme Court prepares to announce its verdicts, the stakes could hardly be higher. A conviction could bar Bolsonaro from holding public office for years, effectively ending his political career and reshaping the landscape for Brazil’s right-wing parties. An acquittal, by contrast, might embolden his base and set the stage for a dramatic political comeback. Either outcome is likely to provoke strong reactions across the political spectrum, with potential ripple effects for Brazil’s international relations—especially given Trump’s vocal involvement and the new trade tariffs.
The scene at the hospital on August 16 was, in many ways, emblematic of the current moment in Brazilian politics: a former president caught between the demands of justice and the sympathies of his followers; a legal system striving to assert its authority; and an international audience watching as the drama unfolds. As Brazil heads into September, all eyes will be on the Supreme Court, the Bolsonaro family, and the millions of Brazilians whose future may be shaped by the decisions made in the coming weeks.
For now, Jair Bolsonaro returns to house arrest, his health monitored by doctors and his fate in the hands of the judiciary. The coming weeks promise to be decisive—not just for one man, but for the direction of a nation still grappling with the legacies of its recent past.