Trump claims Brazil election looked rigged

US President Donald Trump on Monday questioned the legitimacy of Brazil’s presidential election, claiming it “looked like another rigged election” after leftist incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva defeated right-wing challenger Flavio Bolsonaro. Trump made the remarks without providing any evidence of electoral fraud. “I didn’t take sides, but it looked like another rigged election,” Trump told reporters. “It looked very bad to me.”

BREAKING: Trump on Brazilian elections: It looked terrible to me. It looked like another rigged election, frankly. I didn't take sides, but it was a terrible look. https://t.co/vRrk26lyzM

— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 26, 2026

In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump announced a $1 million reward for information about alleged voter fraud in past elections or the upcoming 2026 US midterm elections, saying the money would be paid following the arrest and conviction of those responsible. “Anybody reporting Voter Fraud in the past Elections, or the upcoming 2026 Midterm Election, will be paid $1,000,000 upon the arrest and conviction of those that created the Fraud! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he wrote.
Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, refused to concede defeat in Sunday’s election and said he would seek the annulment of Lula’s victory. He questioned the Supreme Court’s decision to extend voting by two hours. Lula defeated Flavio Bolsonaro by more than four million votes. An analysis of electoral records by Insper professor Pedro Burgos found that fewer than 35,000 votes, or around 0.03% of the total, were cast during the additional two hours of voting ordered by the Supreme Court.
Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin defended the country’s electoral system, calling Trump’s remarks “totally wrong” and “unfounded” in a television interview with Rede Vanguarda. Neither Trump nor Jair Bolsonaro accepted their respective election defeats in 2020 and 2022. Brazil’s former president was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup after losing to Lula.