Overview
- At an AGF Day event in São Paulo, Michel Temer recounted that during a UN General Assembly meeting Donald Trump asked South American leaders, including him, how they planned to invade Venezuela.
- Temer said the leaders expressed embarrassment, affirmed peaceful relations with Venezuela, and that Trump quickly reconsidered, which he cited as proof that dialogue can defuse crises.
- Arguing for a Lula–Trump call on U.S. tariffs, Temer asserted that if Lula picks up the phone, the U.S. president will answer.
- Temer said Trump’s tariff moves and public criticism of Brazilian judicial decisions helped Lula’s standing, calling Trump the president’s greatest campaigner for 2026.
- In a BBC interview cited in the coverage, Lula said he has not tried to call Trump and is pursuing challenges to the tariffs through the WTO and other channels.