Trump describes phone call with Brazil’s Lula as 'very good,' signals trade talks, agrees to meet

Trump and Brazil’s Lula hold 'great' call

US President Donald Trump said he had a “great” phone call with Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Trump recounted meeting Lula at the United Nations General Assembly, describing him as a good man.

"Well, I had a great talk with the President of Brazil, who was a good man. I met him actually, at the United Nations, I was going up to make a speech, and I didn't have a teleprompter. I was walking up to my teleprompter. I said, you know, I don't have a teleprompter. But just before that, I met with President Lula, and I found him to be very good. I mean, we had a very good talk for about, you know, two minutes, and then I went up to make a speech, and I was surprised to see, how would you like that one? Doug, I've got every leader in the world sitting out there," he said.

This marked their first substantive conversation since the US imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Brazilian goods this summer, signalling a potential White House effort to de-escalate tensions, Politico reported.

Trump described the call on Truth Social as a “very good telephone call,” covering trade, the economy and other topics.

"We will be having further discussions, and will get together in the not-too-distant future, both in Brazil and the United States," Trump said. "I enjoyed the call — our Countries will do very well together!"

According to a readout from Lula’s office, the leaders spoke for 30 minutes via videoconference, discussed an in-person meeting, and exchanged phone numbers. Finance Minister Fernando Haddad told Brazilian media the call was “positive,” according to Politico.

The move to mend relations follows a brief, friendly conversation nearly two weeks ago backstage at the UN General Assembly. Relations have been strained for months over the trial and conviction of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, prompting Trump to raise tariffs on many Brazilian goods from 10% to 50%, calling the case a “witch hunt.”