In a landmark decision that has sent shockwaves through Brazil and reverberated across the globe, the nation’s Supreme Court has sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison. The court found him guilty of orchestrating a failed attempt to overturn Brazil’s 2022 presidential election, including plotting a coup d’état and, according to prosecutors, even hatching plans to assassinate the president-elect. The events culminating in Bolsonaro’s conviction have not only exposed deep divisions within Brazilian society but have also sparked a diplomatic spat between Brazil and the United States, with high-profile political figures on both sides weighing in.
According to CNN, the verdict was delivered after a panel of Supreme Court justices reached the majority of votes needed to convict Bolsonaro on September 11, 2025. Three out of five justices voted to convict, with Justice Carmen Lucia casting the decisive third vote. She characterized the case as a pivotal moment for the country, describing it as a “meeting between Brazil and its past, its present, and its future”—a reference to Brazil’s long and often turbulent history with democratic rule and military coups. Lucia further stated there was ample evidence that Bolsonaro acted “with the purpose of eroding democracy and institutions.”
The conviction stems from a series of dramatic events that unfolded in the wake of Bolsonaro’s defeat to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the 2022 presidential election. As detailed by the BBC, on January 8, 2023—just days after Lula’s inauguration—thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia, the nation’s capital. The attacks targeted the presidential palace, the Supreme Court, and Congress, causing significant damage to government property and protected cultural assets. Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet later stated that Bolsonaro, along with seven others, had taken part in an “armed criminal association” intent on violently overthrowing Brazil’s democratic order.
The Supreme Court’s ruling marks the first time a former Brazilian president has faced trial and conviction on coup charges. The list of offenses for which Bolsonaro was convicted is extensive: participating in an armed criminal organization, attempting to violently abolish democracy, organizing a coup, and damaging government property and cultural assets. The sentence—27 years and three months—reflects the gravity with which the court viewed the attempt to subvert Brazil’s democracy.
Bolsonaro and his co-defendants have consistently denied any wrongdoing. His lawyers have announced plans to appeal the conviction, including at the international level, arguing that the charges are politically motivated. As the legal battle continues, the conviction will only become final after the fifth Supreme Court justice, Cristiano Zanin (who previously served as President Lula’s lawyer), casts his vote. Notably, one judge has already voted to acquit, underscoring the contentious and divisive nature of the proceedings.
The political fallout from the conviction has been swift and intense. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes declared Bolsonaro a flight risk in late August 2025, placing the former president under house arrest. Despite his legal troubles, Bolsonaro remains a highly influential figure in Brazilian politics. On September 7, 2025, tens of thousands of his supporters rallied in cities across the country, demonstrating the enduring loyalty he commands among a significant segment of the population. Supporters see the charges as a political witch hunt designed to silence a right-wing populist leader, and many have welcomed expressions of solidarity from abroad.
The international ramifications of Bolsonaro’s conviction have been particularly pronounced in relations between Brazil and the United States. US President Donald Trump, himself no stranger to accusations of attempting to overturn election results after his failed 2020 presidential bid, has been outspoken in his defense of Bolsonaro. Trump denounced the Brazilian court proceedings as a “witch hunt” and, in a dramatic move, imposed a 50% tariff on various Brazilian goods. On September 11, 2025, Trump described the conviction as “very surprising,” echoing the sentiments of Bolsonaro’s supporters who view the case as a politically motivated attack on their leader.
Brazilian President Lula has strongly condemned what he views as Trump’s interference in Brazil’s legal system, calling it “unacceptable” and an attempt to undermine the country’s sovereignty. The diplomatic spat has inflamed tensions between the two nations, with each side accusing the other of meddling in internal affairs and undermining democratic institutions. The episode has highlighted the broader trend of international polarization, where domestic legal battles spill over into global arenas, drawing in powerful foreign allies and adversaries alike.
While the legal process continues to unfold, the case has sparked a national reckoning over Brazil’s democratic future. Justice Carmen Lucia’s words—framing the trial as a confrontation between Brazil’s past, present, and future—have resonated with many observers who see the proceedings as a test of the country’s commitment to democratic norms. The specter of military coups and authoritarian rule has long haunted Brazil, and the events of January 8, 2023, served as a stark reminder of the fragility of democratic institutions.
The trial has also exposed deep rifts within Brazilian society. Supporters of Bolsonaro argue that the charges are an attempt by the political establishment to sideline a popular right-wing leader and stifle dissent. They point to the timing of the trial and the involvement of Lula’s former lawyer as evidence of bias. On the other hand, defenders of the Supreme Court’s decision argue that no one is above the law and that the attempt to overturn a democratic election represents an existential threat to Brazil’s constitutional order.
The international dimension of the case is further complicated by the personal histories of the leaders involved. Both Bolsonaro and Trump have faced allegations of attempting to subvert democratic outcomes, and their political fates have become intertwined in the eyes of their supporters and detractors alike. The imposition of tariffs by the US and the war of words between Lula and Trump have only added fuel to the fire, raising questions about the future of US-Brazil relations and the broader struggle between populist and establishment forces around the world.
As the legal appeals process moves forward, all eyes remain on Brazil’s Supreme Court and the final vote from Justice Cristiano Zanin. The outcome will not only determine Bolsonaro’s personal fate but will also serve as a bellwether for the health of democracy in Brazil. For now, the country stands at a crossroads, grappling with its past and looking uncertainly toward its future.
With tensions high and the world watching, Brazil’s reckoning with its recent political upheaval is far from over. The story of Jair Bolsonaro’s conviction is one of democracy tested, alliances strained, and a nation forced to confront the meaning of justice and the rule of law.
