At a civilian event in Texas, in May 2019, Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro saluted a US flag, military style. Then he said: ‘Brazil and the United States above everything’ – echoing his campaign slogan ‘Brazil above everything’. That scene of subservience in the early days of his administration was not an isolated case. Rather, it was a glimpse into the future.
Everyone in Brazil knows that Bolsonaro established more than an idol-fan relationship with Donald Trump. It was one of vassalage and suzerainty. And in an attempt to help the Republican candidate’s re-election, Bolsonaro made it clear that his personal loyalty to the US president might outweigh his concern for Brazil’s national interests.
