Brazil has denied visa applications for two United States officials linked to the Trump administration over concerns that their planned visit could be viewed as interference in the country’s upcoming presidential election, according to Reuters.
The officials, identified as Assistant Secretary Riley M. Barnes of the US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, and Deputy Assistant Secretary Samuel Samson, were reportedly refused entry on Friday.
According to two Brazilian officials familiar with the matter, the proposed visit was seen as an attempt to question the credibility of Brazil’s electoral process ahead of the October presidential election. The officials spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the issue.
The US State Department had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting. The Washington Post first reported the planned trip, with Reuters later confirming the details.
Brazil’s October election is expected to be a closely watched contest between incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro and an ally of US President Donald Trump.
Recent opinion polls show Lula maintaining a lead over Bolsonaro. In a potential runoff, Lula is projected to secure 48 percent of the vote compared to Bolsonaro’s 43 percent. A June survey had placed Lula at 47 percent and Bolsonaro at 43 percent.
In a first-round voting scenario, Lula is polling at 40 percent, while Bolsonaro is at 32 percent. Other candidates, including Ronaldo Caiado, Romeu Zema, and Renan Santos, trail significantly.
Under Brazil’s electoral system, a candidate must receive more than 50 percent of valid votes to win outright. If no candidate achieves that threshold, the top two contenders advance to a second-round runoff.
Meanwhile, Argentine President Javier Milei travelled to Brazil on Friday to endorse Bolsonaro’s candidacy during a party convention.
The endorsement is seen as a significant boost for Bolsonaro’s campaign, which has faced months of internal divisions and political challenges. Several conservative parties have been reluctant to support his bid while his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, remains under house arrest following his conviction over an alleged failed coup attempt.
Political analyst Silvio Cascione of the Eurasia Group said Milei’s appearance could strengthen Bolsonaro’s support among conservative and ideological voters, especially following recent right-wing electoral successes in parts of Latin America.
