A former Brazilian Foreign Minister who worked under President Jair Bolsonaro has urged the Biden administration to condemn Brazil’s ban on the social media platform X, stating that the U.S. has a ‘responsibility’ to speak out.
Ernesto Araújo, who served as foreign minister from 2019 to 2021, emphasized that the U.S. should be a beacon of democracy, rule of law, and freedom in the region. However, he criticized the White House for its silence on issues of free speech, which preceded the X ban.
“The Biden administration has not fulfilled that responsibility for a long time, especially regarding Brazil’s recent actions, including the ban on X,” Araújo told Fox News Digital. “This ban is part of a pattern of restricting rights, undermining the rule of law, and destroying democracy in Brazil, all carried out by various authorities without any response from the U.S. administration.”
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Last week, Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes banned X due to the company’s failure to appoint a legal representative in the country, resulting in the immediate suspension of X’s operations in Brazil.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo offers a press conference at Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia on March 2, 2021. (Evaristo Sa/AFP via Getty Images)
The ban is set to remain in place until all court orders are met, fines are paid, and a new legal representative is appointed for the company in Brazil, as reported by The Guardian.
X, led by Elon Musk, has resisted compliance with Moraes’s order to ban certain accounts linked to individuals involved in an alleged coup attempt, claiming that these accounts spread misinformation and pose a threat.
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Musk accused Moraes, an ally of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, of infringing on free speech and violating the Brazilian constitution. Musk also alleged that the judge targeted his platform for political reasons.
US President Joe Biden meets with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York City on September 20, 2023. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
The White House and the U.S. State Department have not publicly commented on this issue.
“The U.S. has a responsibility, especially in the hemisphere, to support those defending freedom and democracy,” Araújo emphasized. “It should ally with those upholding freedom rather than those undermining it.”
Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s president, left, gives U.S. President Donald Trump, a soccer jersey during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, March 19, 2019. Trump said he is “very inclined” to make Brazil an official U.S. ally, a status that would provide the country with preferential access to U.S. military equipment and technology. (Chris Kleponis/Pool via Bloomberg)
“The administration is showing sympathy towards the wrong factions in Latin America,” Araújo added. “It’s not about left or right; it’s about those truly supporting democracy.”
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The ban has sparked divisions in Brazil, with many users switching to alternative platforms like Bluesky and Threads.
While X’s user base in Brazil is smaller compared to Instagram and TikTok, the platform has been a vital hub for news agencies, political figures, and intellectuals, amplifying its impact.
Elon Musk is seen during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Izabela Patriota, director of development at the Ladies of Liberty Alliance Brazil, has indicated that protests are planned on Brazil’s Independence Day to oppose the ban.
While some Brazilians are transitioning to different platforms, former officials and allies of Bolsonaro fear that the X ban could lead to additional restrictions. There are concerns that other platforms and services may face similar actions from the courts if deemed threatening. Additionally, Musk’s Starlink service, a satellite internet provider, has also come under scrutiny by de Moraes.
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“While X serves as one platform, many Brazilians have already switched to alternative platforms, Starlink is providing vital connectivity to numerous communities in isolated areas like the Amazon,” Patriota explained.
Araújo expressed concerns about Brazil’s international trajectory, highlighting the country’s alliances with China, Russia, and Iran.
“There’s a dangerous game being played,” Araújo warned. “Lula is aligning Brazil with foes of freedom, enemies of the United States.”
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“Certain individuals in the State Department or Democratic Party perceive Lula as an ally, whether due to specific interests or lack of awareness, portraying Lula as the good guy while demonizing the Right in Brazil,” Araújo added.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication.
