A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has ordered the house arrest of former President Jair Bolsonaro for violating restrictions imposed ahead of his trial over an alleged coup attempt. The decision, made by Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Monday, was swiftly condemned by the U.S.
Bolsonaro broke a social media ban that was part of his pre-trial conditions, which also required him to wear an electronic ankle monitor. Moraes ruled that during nationwide protests in support of Bolsonaro on Sunday, the far-right leader used allies’ social media accounts to share messages that encouraged attacks on Brazil’s Supreme Court and endorsed foreign interference in the country’s judiciary.
“There is no doubt the precautionary measure was breached,” Moraes wrote.
The judge, who was recently sanctioned by the U.S. for his handling of the Bolsonaro case, ordered the former president confined to his rented mansion in Brasília, with visits limited to close family and lawyers. Federal police were instructed to confiscate all mobile phones at the property.
Bolsonaro’s press team confirmed his house arrest Monday evening, and his lawyers said they would appeal, arguing he had not violated any court orders.
The U.S. State Department criticized Moraes’ ruling, calling him a “sanctioned human rights abuser” and accusing him of silencing opposition. “Let Bolsonaro speak!” the department said in a statement.
Moraes has dismissed U.S. sanctions as politically motivated, claiming they were orchestrated by Brazilian “traitors” seeking to undermine the country’s judiciary.
In his ruling, Moraes noted that despite the social media ban, Bolsonaro participated by phone in a pro-government rally in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. His son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, held a phone to a microphone so the crowd could hear the former president speak. The senator later deleted a video of the incident, which Moraes called an attempt to hide the violation.
The arrest is part of a broader Supreme Court case in which Bolsonaro faces charges related to an alleged plot to overturn the 2022 election results.Former president Jair Bolsonaro is accused of orchestrating a plan to overturn the last election’s results, which saw current president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeat the ex-army captain. The trial, likely to wrap up this year, could result in Bolsonaro receiving a prison sentence exceeding 40 years.
Political analyst Fernando Gabeira remarked on GloboNews: “Bolsonaro’s arrest is happening step by step. Whether intentionally or not, the supreme court is gradually leading him to prison—perhaps to prevent a major upheaval.”
Tensions have been rising in Brasília, where thousands of Bolsonaro supporters gathered outside the central bank on Sunday to show solidarity. Some protesters called on former U.S. President Donald Trump—who recently imposed 50% tariffs on Brazil, calling Bolsonaro’s prosecution a “witch hunt”—to intervene further.
“I’d love to hug Trump and say: Thank you for caring about us,” said 64-year-old supporter Álvaro Junior, holding a sign that read, “Thank you, Trump.”
Authorities have set up metal barricades around key government buildings, including the supreme court, foreign ministry, and congress, anticipating potential protests or violence from right-wing groups.
Trump escalated tensions last week by sanctioning Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Moraes of leading “an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions violating human rights, and politically motivated prosecutions—including against former president Jair Bolsonaro.”
Lindovaldo Ribeiro Paulo, a 43-year-old wearing a red MAGA hat, praised the sanctions, saying, “Our admiration—even love—for the American people has grown stronger.”
In Monday’s ruling, Moraes stated that Bolsonaro had “repeated his illegal actions more aggressively and defiantly,” continuing to “encourage a foreign leader to interfere unlawfully in Brazil’s judicial process—attempting to pressure Brazilian authorities and blatantly violating national sovereignty.”
