Credit: Wikipedia  /flickr  / Foto: Isac Nóbrega/PR /  President Trump presents Brasil President Jair Bolsonaro with  personal soccer jersey during his visit to the White House, March 19, 2019.

By Gary Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

The media has dubbed Brazil’s right-wing President Jair Messias Bolsonaro  the “Trump of The Tropics.”  Shortly after becoming Brazil’s new president in January 2019,  Bolsonaro wasted no time to prove his Trump anti-immigrant credentials by pulling the Latin American country out of a United Nations agreement protecting the rights of migrants. Barely two weeks in office, the newly-elected president enthusiastically flexed his anti-immigrant muscle, hoping to catch the attention of his role model Trump.   Bolsonaro is known for his anti-immigrant, anti-gay, and racial comments.  President Trump loves him so much for that he invited the Brazilian president to the  White House this week.   As President Trump and his administration continues to shun and advocate regime change of the  government of Venezuela President Nicholas Maduro, who he calls a dictator,    he is now embracing  a political leader in Bolsonaro who  many  say it shaping up to become one of the  most  authoritarian, controversial and brutal leaders in the world. 

Bolsonaro, a 63-year-old former army captain, won election in October 2018  and was sworn in on January 1 as Brazil’s first far-right president since 1985, when the military dictatorship gave way to a civilian democracy.

Credit: Wikipedia public domain/ Brasil President Bolsonaro.

“Immigration cannot become an indiscriminate act. It is imperative for us to establish proper criteria for each country,” said Bolsonaro, a fan of U.S. President Donald Trump who took office Jan. 1.

President Trump Thanks Bolsonaro For Supporting Interim Venezuela President Juan Guaidó:

“Brazil has been an extraordinary leader in supporting the Venezuelan people’s efforts to reclaim their liberty and their democracy.  Brazil has helped so much.  Along with the United States, Brazil was one of the first nations to recognize Venezuela’s legitimate Interim President, Juan Guaidó. We call on members of the Venezuelan military to end their support for Maduro, who is really nothing more than a Cuban puppet, and finally set their people free.”

President Trump  March 19, 2019  Press Conference with Bolsonaro

Credit: Wikipedia public domain / State Department photo /  U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Mrs. Susan Pompeo pose for a photograph with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Brazilian First Lady Michelle de Paula Firmo Reinaldo Bolsonaro, in Brasilia, Brazil, January 1, 2019

Secretary Pompeo attended a presidential exchange ceremony and speech on the occasion of the inauguration of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, in Brasilia, Brazil Jan. 1, 2019.  Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua were included in discussions between Pompeo and Brazil’s new president Bolsonaro, according to the Department of State.

Uma nova era nas relações entre Brasil e Estados Unidos se inicia, para o bem de nossas nações. Grande dia! 🇧🇷🤝🇺🇸 Great day! 👍 pic.twitter.com/rmyViMSeP8

— Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) March 19, 2019