Several World Leaders Congratulated Brazil’s Lula For His Electoral Win. Trump Said it Looked Like ‘Another Rigged Election.’

President Donald Trump suggested Monday that Brazil's presidential election was "rigged," setting himself apart from world leaders who have congratulated President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on his reelection.

Trump's comments came a day after Lula defeated right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in a runoff that secured the Brazilian leader a fourth, nonconsecutive term. Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has refused to concede.

Asked about the vote, Trump told reporters it looked like "another rigged election." He said elections must be indisputable but did not provide evidence of fraud. Argentina's President Javier Milei, who supported Bolsonaro, has not publicly acknowledged Lula's victory either.

The U.S. president's reaction contrasted with those of leaders across the political spectrum, including conservative presidents in Latin America. Lula received congratulations from leaders including Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, French President Emmanuel Macron and Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Lula won approximately 51.8% of valid votes in Sunday's runoff, compared with 48.2% for Bolsonaro, according to the reported results. The margin was more than 4 million votes. The result marked a comeback for Lula, who finished second to Bolsonaro in the first round on October 4. His victory also denied the Brazilian right a return to the presidency after a closely contested campaign in Latin America's largest country.

Bolsonaro challenged a decision to extend voting by two hours after transportation problems and severe weather affected some voters. Both campaigns had requested additional voting time, although Bolsonaro later cited the extension in his refusal to recognize the outcome.

Brazilian electoral officials said the extension did not affect the result. Trump also pointed to the extension when questioning the election. Neither his remarks nor Bolsonaro's objection established that votes were manipulated.

Lula's reelection drew congratulations from presidents in Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru, despite political differences with the Brazilian leader, according to Latin America Reports.

The response showed that several regional leaders were prepared to work with Lula even as Bolsonaro contested the result. Leaders from outside the region also welcomed the outcome, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen describing it as a victory for democracy and multilateralism.

Trump has long maintained ties with the Bolsonaro family. Jair Bolsonaro, a close political ally of the U.S. president, is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for his role in a plot to overturn his 2022 election defeat to Lula. Flávio Bolsonaro had pledged to seek a pardon for his father.

Relations between Washington and Brasília have also been strained by Trump's tariffs on Brazilian goods and his criticism of Brazil's prosecution of the former president. Lula used his victory speech to stress Brazilian sovereignty, declaring that the country would not accept being anyone's "backyard."