Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has taken aim at US President Donald Trump, urging him to focus more on governance and less on maintaining an aggressive presence on social media.
In an interview with Brazilian outlet g1 on Wednesday, Lula expressed concern over Trump’s digital behavior, especially during a time of international turmoil. “In a world filled with uncertainty, a leader of the United States should be weighing his words carefully, investing energy in diplomacy, multilateralism, and peace – not obsessing over the internet,” Lula said.
Trump has been particularly active on his Truth Social platform, posting over 2,100 updates since returning to office in January, averaging 17 posts per day, according to The Independent. His online activity intensified even further during the recent 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, during which he used social media to deliver warnings and declare US positions.
Lula took a jab at the media-driven nature of American politics under Trump, saying, “Every day we see the obsession with damn headlines,” implying that Trump’s communication style is driven more by spectacle than substance.
In a previous interview with The Atlantic, Trump openly boasted about writing his Truth Social posts personally. “I go quickly as hell,” he said. “You would be impressed. I like doing them myself.”
Despite criticism, Trump’s spokesperson Taylor Rogers defended the president’s media habits, calling him “the most transparent president in history” and asserting that he uses social media to communicate directly with the public.
The Brazilian president’s recent remarks follow a string of sharp comments aimed at Trump in recent months. In February, Lula insisted that Trump was elected “to lead America, not to police the planet.” In March, amid a disagreement over US-imposed tariffs, he added, “Yelling from across the ocean doesn’t scare me. I’ve learned not to flinch at a scowl.”
The ongoing exchange highlights the political and ideological rift between the two leaders, especially given Trump’s close ties to Lula’s right-wing predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.
