Justice Alexandre de Moraes kept in place the restraining orders on social media use, and clarified that Bolsonaro is not forbidden from giving interviews.
Brazil’s Supreme Court decided on Thursday not to order the arrest of former President Jair Bolsonaro for violating court-imposed restrictions, though the judge said he could be detained for any future violations.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case in which Bolsonaro is charged with plotting a coup, imposed restrictions on the former president on July 18. The restrictions included an ankle monitor, a ban on social media use, and no contact with foreign embassies.
On Monday, the judge threatened to arrest the conservative politician for breaching the orders on social media use—which includes use through third parties—when Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo posted a video of his father delivering a speech and showing his electronic ankle monitor.
Moraes wrote in his decision that there was no doubt the order had not been followed, but said the isolated breach did not warrant a detention order.
The justice kept in place the restraining orders on social media use and clarified that Bolsonaro is not forbidden from giving interviews.
Bolsonaro, 70, told reporters on Thursday outside the Liberal Party headquarters in Brasília that his lawyers were reviewing the decision and would advise him on Friday about what he is allowed to say under the ruling.
U.S. President Donald Trump has denounced the trial as being politically driven.
In a July 7 post on Truth Social, Trump said: “Brazil is doing a terrible thing on their treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro. … I’ll be watching the WITCH HUNT of Jair Bolsonaro, his family, and thousands of his supporters, very closely.”
Two days later, the U.S. president threatened Brazil with 50 percent import tariffs, citing non-tariff trade barriers and Bolsonaro’s treatment.
In a letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, posted on Truth Social on July 9, Trump said the trial had turned Brazil into “an international disgrace,” and urged that it be halted immediately.
“Due in part to Brazil’s insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans … starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Brazil a Tariff of 50 percent on any and all Brazilian products sent into the United States,” Trump wrote.
In response, Lula said Brazil was “a sovereign nation with independent institutions and will not accept any form of tutelage.” He warned that Brazil may respond with retaliatory tariffs.
