The 'Patriots' Who Beg for Colonization: Unmasking the Far-Right's Anti-National Betrayal

The Cult of Personality Over Country

The desperation among Bolsonaristas is palpable as Jair Bolsonaro's coup plot trial approaches its verdict. The former president faces the very real possibility of decades in jail, with experts and even adversaries like leftwing congressman Guilherme Boulos convinced that conviction and imprisonment are assured. Boulos points to a "robust" body of evidence, including an alleged plan to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes – the judge presiding over the trial – found printed in Bolsonaro's presidential palace. For many of Bolsonaro's devotees, however, logic and evidence have taken a back seat to faith and a dangerous hope in external salvation.

Millions of supporters, like Edite Costa, are pinning their hopes on Donald Trump. "I believe in God and I believe God will touch Donald Trump’s heart and that he will help us," Costa declared, clutching her American flag. She views Trump as a divinely chosen "liberator," not just for the US, but for Brazil. This belief system, where a foreign leader is elevated to a messianic figure, fundamentally undermines the very concept of national independence that these self-proclaimed patriots claim to uphold. It’s a tragic testament to how a cult of personality can eclipse the purported values of an entire movement, revealing far-right hypocrisy at its core.

Trump's Imperial Hand: Sanctions and Lobbying

This isn't mere wishful thinking. Donald Trump has actively begun to intervene, answering the calls of Bolsonaro's base with measures that are nothing short of an imperial affront. In recent weeks, the US president has imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports, stripped eight Brazilian Supreme Court judges of their US visas, and specifically sanctioned Justice Alexandre de Moraes, accusing him of orchestrating a "judicial dictatorship." These actions are a direct assault on Brazil's sovereignty and economy, orchestrated in plain sight to influence an internal legal process.

At the heart of this pressure campaign is Bolsonaro's third son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, a congressman with deep ties to the MAGA movement. Eduardo moved to the US, claiming political persecution, and has been actively lobbying the Trump administration. He openly admitted to visiting the White House "almost every week," pressing for further sanctions after his father was placed under house arrest. This brazen advocacy for foreign intervention against his own country's institutions highlights a stunning example of imperial subservience and treason. It illustrates how the far-right, when faced with accountability, becomes little more than US imperial pawns, trading national dignity for political survival.

The Treason of the "Patriots": A Mask Slips

The irony is stark. Bolsonaro and his sons built their brand on an aggressive, flag-waving "patriotism," encouraging followers to wear Brazil’s national football jersey and adopt the national anthem. Yet, their actions now betray every principle of national pride they once espoused. Protesters gather outside Brasília’s central bank, not with Brazilian flags exclusively, but with US flags and red MAGA caps, openly chanting "Trumpy! Come here to Brazil, Trumpy!" Some, like Edite Costa, even bellow for the US president to "encircle Brazil with US military bases and colonise her homeland." This isn't patriotism; it's a chilling endorsement of colonial fantasies, a surrender of sovereignty for a political leader.

"Even people on the right are looking at this and saying this can’t be possible… Brazil isn’t the US’s back yard, it isn’t a little banana republic where he can intervene and do whatever he wants."

As Guilherme Boulos rightly points out, this maneuver has backfired, exposing the Bolsonaro clan as "traitors to the nation who are being used by Trump to attack Brazilian sovereignty, Brazilian jobs and the Brazilian economy" (The Guardian, August 9, 2025). Even Brazil’s conservative elites are turning against the ex-president for prioritizing his personal interests over the country’s well-being. Political pundit Thomas Traumann quipped that the only way for Trump to save Bolsonaro would be to "Invade Brazil," dismissing any chance of Trump's pressure campaign succeeding. This desperate gambit has not only failed but has also highlighted the profound shallowness of their "nationalist" claims, revealing a willingness to accept foreign dominance if it means retaining their preferred power structure.

This shocking demand for colonization, for external military intervention, lays bare the true nature of this brand of far-right nationalism. It is not about the nation's integrity, but about a tribal loyalty to an authoritarian figure, willing to dismantle national institutions and economic stability to protect that figure. The very symbols they draped themselves in – the flag, the anthem – are now rendered meaningless by their open embrace of foreign subjugation. This is the ultimate nationalist betrayal.

The Dangerous Allure of Global Authoritarianism

What we are witnessing in Brazil is not an isolated incident but a clear pattern emerging within global far-right movements. From Viktor Orbán's Hungary to elements within the Republican Party in the US, there's a growing tendency for self-proclaimed nationalists to forge international alliances based on shared authoritarian tendencies, often at the expense of their own nation's democratic institutions or economic independence. When faced with legal accountability or political defeat, the facade of national pride crumbles, revealing a readiness to appeal to a larger, international network of right-wing power.

This phenomenon represents a critical challenge to democratic norms and national sovereignty worldwide. It shows how nationalist rhetoric can be weaponized not to protect a nation, but to dismantle its internal checks and balances, and to invite external interference when expedient. The fervent prayers for Trump, the US flags at protests, the lobbying for sanctions – these are not acts of patriotism. They are acts of political opportunism that expose the deep-seated ideological inconsistencies within these movements. It's a stark reminder that true patriotism requires defending one's nation, its institutions, and its people, not trading them for the perceived salvation offered by a foreign power.

As Brazil stands at this critical juncture, the world watches. The verdict on Bolsonaro's coup plot, expected in September, will be more than just a legal decision; it will be a test of Brazil's democratic resilience against external pressure and internal betrayal. The 'patriots' who beg for colonization have made their choice. Now, it's up to democratic forces, both within Brazil and internationally, to resist this dangerous trend and reaffirm the principles of national sovereignty and democratic accountability. Learn more about Brazil's democratic struggles in our deep-dive into Brazilian democracy.

FAQ: Brazil's Coup Plot Trial and Foreign Interference