US President Donald Trump has strongly defended former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro following his conviction and sentencing to over 27 years in prison for plotting a coup.

Speaking at the White House, Trump described the ruling by Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court as shocking and unfair. “Jair Bolsonaro was an outstanding leader. Now, it’s a terrible thing for Brazil,” Trump said. “I watched that trial. I know him pretty well. I thought he was a good president of Brazil. And it’s very surprising that that could happen.”

Drawing parallels with his own legal challenges, Trump added: “That’s very much like they tried to do with me, but they didn’t get away with it. I knew him as the president of Brazil. He was a good man, and I don’t see that happening.”

Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and three months after four of five justices on a Supreme Federal Court panel voted to convict him. The charges included plotting a coup, attempted violent abolition of democratic rule, participation in an armed criminal organisation, aggravated property damage, and destruction of heritage sites. Justice Luiz Fux was the lone dissenter.

The trial, which began on September 2, concluded this week with Bolsonaro absent from the final proceedings. He remains under house arrest and has vowed to appeal before the full 11-member bench, insisting the case is politically motivated to bar him from contesting the 2026 elections.

The verdict has sparked global debate: Trump and Bolsonaro’s allies see it as a politically driven attack on conservatives, while democracy advocates in Brazil hailed the decision as a milestone for judicial accountability and constitutional order.