Olivia Asher is a reporter at the New Herald Tribune covering breaking news for the Digital Trends Desk. Before joining the newsroom in 2022, she covered criminal justice issues at the Orlando Plain Dealer.
September 11 , 2025
Washington, D.C. — Marco Rubio announced today that President Donald J. Trump has issued a full and unconditional presidential pardon to former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, absolving him of any legal liability in the United States for his alleged involvement in plotting a failed coup in Brazil.
The pardon, delivered in an official statement from the White House Thursday evening, comes amid ongoing international investigations into Bolsonaro’s role in the January 2023 events in Brasília, where supporters stormed government buildings following his electoral defeat. While Brazilian authorities have opened multiple inquiries, Bolsonaro had been residing in Florida during much of the post-election period.
Standing outside the Capitol, Rubio praised the decision as a "bold act of diplomatic leadership" and said the pardon was "essential in protecting a key hemispheric ally from what many see as politically motivated prosecutions."
“This sends a clear message that the United States does not stand idly by while conservative leaders are targeted through judicial overreach,” Rubio said. “President Bolsonaro has been a friend to the United States and a champion of liberty in South America.”
Legal experts note that while the presidential pardon only affects U.S. jurisdiction — and cannot shield Bolsonaro from prosecution under Brazilian law — it could complicate international cooperation with Brazilian authorities, especially in cases where Bolsonaro remains on U.S. soil.
The Brazilian government has not yet formally responded to the announcement, but sources inside Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern that the pardon could strain diplomatic relations, particularly if Bolsonaro continues to reside in the U.S. rather than return to face judicial proceedings.
Bolsonaro, who has largely remained out of public view in recent months, issued a brief statement through his attorney, thanking President Trump and saying he looked forward to “resuming public life without the burden of false accusations.”
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