Lula’s Tariff Tactics and Venezuela Standoff Reveal Gaps in U.S. Leadership

In an era when American strength should be unambiguous, Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva steps forward with an unusual offer: he will personally call former President Donald Trump if ongoing tariff talks falter. This candid admission before the United Nations’ climate summit in Belem exposes more than just stalled negotiations—it reveals a vacuum where firm U.S. leadership ought to be. The Trump administration’s imposition of tariffs exceeding 50% on Brazilian goods promised to protect American industries and workers from unfair competition, a cornerstone of the America First agenda that prioritized economic sovereignty. Yet, here we see Brazil openly reaching...