In a surprising turn of events, the United States has reversed a contentious decision by removing Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes from its sanctions list, a move that’s stirring debate on both sides of the hemisphere.
This development, announced on Friday, December 12, 2025, also extends to de Moraes’ wife and the Lex Institute she heads, marking a significant shift in U.S.-Brazil relations after months of diplomatic tension.
Let’s rewind to August 2024, when de Moraes ordered the suspension of Elon Musk’s X platform in Brazil over claims of failing to curb misinformation, a ban that lasted until October of that year.
At the time, Musk was a key ally of President Donald Trump, even helping to fund his campaign, which made the suspension a personal jab in the eyes of many conservatives.
Fast forward to July 2025, and the Trump administration slapped sanctions on de Moraes, accusing him of stifling free speech and ordering unjust detentions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio didn’t mince words, stating that de Moraes “abused his authority by engaging in a targeted and politically motivated effort designed to silence political critics” through secret orders and censorship (U.S. Department of Treasury).
Adding fuel to the fire, the U.S. also imposed a hefty 40% tariff on Brazilian goods in July 2025, on top of an existing 10% rate, citing Brazil’s handling of former President Jair Bolsonaro’s prosecution as an economic emergency.
Bolsonaro, often called the “Trump of the Tropics,” was convicted and sentenced to over 27 years in prison for allegedly plotting to cling to power after his 2022 election loss, with his sentence beginning in November 2025.
Trump himself labeled Bolsonaro’s treatment an “international disgrace,” a sentiment that resonated with many who saw the trial as politically charged overreach (Trump social media post, July 9, 2025).
Yet, despite the frost, cracks of warmth emerged as Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva began rebuilding ties, starting with a meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025.
Further talks in Malaysia in October 2025 and a pivotal weekend phone call paved the way for the sanctions’ repeal, a gesture Brazil’s government hailed as a triumph over Bolsonaro’s influence.
Interestingly, a senior Trump administration official, speaking off the record, noted that Brazil’s passage of an amnesty bill in its lower house signaled progress on legal fairness, prompting the sanctions’ lift.
Last month, in November 2025, the White House also eased some of the punitive tariffs on Brazilian imports like beef and coffee, a nod to the $6.8 billion trade surplus the U.S. enjoyed with Brazil in 2024.
While this thaw in relations offers hope, it’s hard not to see the irony in Lula’s diplomatic win, especially as he pushes Latin American unity to counter Trump’s military moves against Venezuelan drug-linked vessels.
For conservatives, this reversal might sting, but it’s a pragmatic step—balancing principle with the reality of needing allies in a world where ideological battles often clash with economic and strategic interests.
