BREAKING: After Trump slapped steep tariffs on Brazil, claiming disgraced ex-president Jair Bolsonaro should be freed from prosecution, Brazilian officials are now reportedly considering retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. — unless the Epstein files are released.

While Trump did impose steep tariffs on Brazil citing the prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro, there is no credible evidence that Trump demanded Bolsonaro be freed from prosecution or that Brazilian officials are considering retaliatory tariffs contingent on the release of Epstein files.

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified July 12, 2025

Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazil citing Bolsonaro's prosecution as a 'witch hunt'.time.com bbc.com Brazil has vowed reciprocal tariffs in response but no credible source links this retaliation to demands for Epstein file releases.cnbc.com

The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

The claim can be broken down into three main components: 1) Trump imposed steep tariffs on Brazil, 2) Trump claimed Bolsonaro should be freed from prosecution, and 3) Brazilian officials are considering retaliatory tariffs unless Epstein files are released.

Multiple credible sources confirm that President Trump imposed a 50% tariff on imports from Brazil, explicitly linking this action to what he described as a "witch hunt" against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Trump criticized the prosecution of Bolsonaro and demanded it be stopped, framing it as unfair political persecution.time.com theguardian.com bbc.com This part of the claim is accurate.

However, the claim that Trump demanded Bolsonaro be "freed from prosecution" is an overstatement. Trump's communications called for an end to the prosecution or investigation, labeling it a "witch hunt," but did not explicitly demand Bolsonaro's release or freedom from legal process. The language used was more about stopping the trial or inquiry rather than a direct call for freedom from prosecution.theguardian.com bbc.com

Regarding Brazilian officials considering retaliatory tariffs contingent on the release of Epstein files, there is no credible evidence in any reputable news sources to support this. The reports indicate Brazil vowed to respond with reciprocal tariffs in response to Trump's tariff hike,cnbc.com but these responses are framed as standard trade retaliation measures rather than linked to any demands about Epstein files or related conditions. The mention of Epstein files appears to be unsubstantiated and likely fabricated or speculative.

In summary, while Trump's tariff imposition and criticism of Bolsonaro's prosecution are well-documented facts, the claim that Brazilian officials are conditioning retaliatory tariffs on the release of Epstein files is unsupported by any credible evidence. This element appears to be false or misleading.

The verdict is Mostly False because the core factual elements about tariffs and Trump's stance on Bolsonaro are true but the additional claim about Epstein files and conditional retaliation is unverified and likely false.

Primary trail