Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he was “very, very satisfied” after meeting U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, as both leaders sought to repair a strained relationship dominated by trade tensions, tariffs and political mistrust.
The three-hour meeting focused on trade, security, critical minerals and organized crime. Although the two presidents had been expected to take questions together in the Oval Office, they did not appear jointly, briefly prompting speculation that the talks had run into difficulty. Lula later said he had requested that the meeting be held privately first, while Trump described the discussion as successful.
“We discussed many topics, including Trade and, specifically, Tariffs. The meeting went very well,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, calling Lula a “very dynamic” leader and saying more meetings would be scheduled in the coming months. Lula, speaking later at the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, said the encounter marked an “important step” toward strengthening Brazil-U.S. relations.
The visit followed a difficult year in bilateral ties. Trump previously imposed steep tariffs on Brazilian goods, including a 50 percent levy, after accusing Brazil of politically targeting former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was later convicted over an attempt to overturn democracy. Trump later withdrew many of those tariffs, including levies on Brazilian beef and coffee, partly to ease pressure on U.S. grocery prices.
Brazilian officials entered the talks hoping to prevent new trade measures. Reuters reported that both sides agreed to establish a working group to continue discussions, a step that could help delay or avert additional U.S. tariffs. Remaining disputes include digital trade, ethanol barriers, timber exports and possible U.S. action under a Section 301 investigation into alleged unfair trade practices.
Critical minerals were also central to the meeting. Lula said Brazil’s rare earth reserves are open to investment from any country willing to process the minerals inside Brazil, including the United States, China and European partners. He made clear that Brasília would not sideline China in order to satisfy Washington.
The meeting came as Lula faces domestic political pressure, including setbacks in Congress and a tight race ahead of Brazil’s October election. Lula said he did not believe Trump would influence the vote and stressed that Brazilians would decide their own political future.
Despite ideological differences, both leaders signaled interest in keeping dialogue open, with trade now the clearest test of whether the reset can hold.
