Lula’s statement about humiliation in Trump’s call reverberates on US TV

Lula’s statement to Reuters on Wednesday (6) that he will not ‘humiliate himself’ by calling Donald Trump was echoed in the US press. In an article published on Thursday (7), Fox News stated that Lula remains ‘firmly against’ agreements with the US and has criticized American tariffs as an intimidation tactic. In his interview with Reuters, the Brazilian president pointed out that Trump did not discuss negotiations in their correspondence, only making new threats. The Fox report also recalled Lula’s previous statement that the tariffs are an ‘unacceptable blackmail’. The US TV highlighted Trump’s comment on July 31, a day after announcing an additional 40% tariff on Brazil, that the Brazilian president could ‘talk to him anytime he wants’. In what seemed like a response to this statement, the Brazilian head of state wrote on X that he had always been open to dialogue without mentioning the American by name. Lastly, Fox emphasized part of Lula’s post at the time: ‘The direction of Brazil is determined by Brazilians and their institutions. At the moment, we are working to protect our economy, companies, and workers, and to respond to the tariff measures of the US government,’ wrote Lula.