Lula is a 'very volatile' person, says Trump

US President Donald Trump speaks to journalists in Paris on June 17, 2026.
Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein
United States President Donald Trump stated that President Lula is a "very volatile" person and that he "doesn't care" about the Brazilian leader.
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Trump's speech, given in an interview with the North American website Axios released this Friday (19), repeats the trend of distancing with Lula seen in recent weeks, due to actions by the US government such as a new tariff against Brazil and the designation of the PCC and the CV as terrorist groups.
Asked by the interviewer if he was a fan of Lula, Trump said he doesn't think about him and criticized the Brazilian president. "I don't really think about him. I don't care. But now he's a different kind of person. He's very volatile. I saw how he gave a speech. It was very volatile, and that's okay," he said. See the full excerpt below.
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Interviewer: You obviously have experience with world leaders throughout your two terms. What is your definition of a great leader? How do you define it?
Trump: Well, there are many different types of leaders. Yesterday, for example, I'm going to mention that name again because it's quite notable. You know, I've followed India all my life. They kept changing leaders, changing, changing. Someone stayed for six months, then a year. And then, suddenly, Prime Minister Modi arrived in office. He's been there for over 12 years, very solid. And he does it with great serenity, although he is not a calm person. He's a very tough guy. I know him very well. And there are leaders who are very different from each other. I observed Brazil, the leader there, who I know a little. We had some contacts. He's a very volatile person.
Interviewer: You're not a fan of Lula, if I'm not mistaken.
Trump: It's not about being a fan or not being a fan. To be honest, I don't think about him. I don't really think about him. I couldn't care less. But now he's a different kind of person. Very volatile. I saw him giving a speech. It was a very volatile speech, and that's okay. There are all types of people. So, when you talk about leaders, when you ask what they all have in common, look: they are all smart. You don't get to this level without being smart. Do you know who is very intelligent? President Xi of China. He is a very intelligent man. You don't reach these levels, governing a country - even if it's a small country - without having something special. In some cases, things don't work out, but you have to have something special. It's not an easy task.
The Axios interview came just days after Trump and Lula met briefly at the G7 summit in Evian, France. At the time, the North American leader stated that he spoke with the Brazilian, but did not say the content or the topic of the dialogue. He also called Brazil a "politically complicated country". Lula, in turn, stated after the G7 that he did not ask for a meeting with Trump because the two countries are in the negotiation phase.
Trump says he spoke with Lula at the G7 and calls Brazil a 'politically difficult country'
This report is being updated.

Source: G1