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Trump meets privately with Brazil's Lula, says progress made on tariff fight

Topic: businessRegion: North AmericaUpdated: i2 outletsSources: 20⚠ Bias gap — sources divergeSpectrum: Mostly Center4 min read📡 Wire pickup
📰 Scored from 2 outletsacross 1 Center 1 RightHow we score bias →
Story Summary
SITUATION
President Trump met privately with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to discuss potential new tariffs on Brazil. Trump reported progress in the discussions, but the specifics of the tariff changes remain unclear.
Coveragetap to expand ▾
Spectrum: Mostly Center🌍Other: 9 · US: 7 · Europe: 2 · ME: 1
Political Spectrum
Position is inferred from coverage mix.
i2 outlets · Center
Left
Center
Right
Left: 2
Center: 13
Right: 4
Geography Coverage
Distribution of where coverage is coming from.
i2 unique outlets · Dominant: Global
KEY FACTS
  • President Trump on Thursday said progress was made on potential new tariffs on Brazil after he met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the White House.
  • Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that the meeting “went very well.” The president said representatives from both countries will get together over the next few months to continue discussions.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The unexpected private meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the White House on May 9, 2026, marks a significant moment in the complex relationship between the two leaders and their respective countries.

This meeting, focused on trade and tariffs, comes after years of public disagreement and serves as a potential turning point in U.S.-Brazil relations. The backdrop to this meeting is rooted in the historical trade dynamics between the United States and Brazil, two of the largest economies in the Americas.

Brief

President Donald Trump held a private meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the White House, focusing on trade relations and potential new tariffs on Brazil. The meeting, described by Trump as having gone 'very well,' marks a significant step in addressing trade tensions between the two nations.

Trump announced on Truth Social that progress was made, although specific details of the tariff discussions were not disclosed. This meeting comes after a federal trade court invalidated Trump's attempt to impose a global tariff of 10%, a decision that followed a Supreme Court loss over separate levies.

The Court of International Trade ruled in favor of businesses challenging Trump's tariff efforts, highlighting ongoing challenges in U.S. trade policy. Despite past public feuds between Trump and Lula, the meeting was conducted in a closed setting, signaling a potential thaw in relations.

Representatives from both countries are expected to continue discussions in the coming months, aiming to solidify the progress reported by Trump. The unexpected nature of the meeting and its closed-door format suggest a strategic shift in how the U.S. administration is handling its trade negotiations with Brazil.

As the two countries navigate these discussions, the broader implications for international trade and economic relations remain to be seen.

Where sources differ
Bias gap1.25 / 2.0

Left- and right-leaning outlets are covering this story differently — in which facts to emphasize, which context to include, and how to frame causes and consequences.

Left-leaning (2)
nbcnews.com-0.25
Trump holds White House meeting with Brazil’s president - NBC News. Reporting is limited at this stage.
aljazeera.com-0.20
US trade court rules against Trump’s 10 percent global tariffs. Reporting is limited at this stage.
Center (13)
finance-commerce.comhomepagenews.comfacebook.comnotus.orgaa.com.trupi.comibtimes.co.ukthehill.comnewrepublic.combbc.comlocal12.comspectrumlocalnews.comapnews.com
Right-leaning (4)
breitbart.com+1.00
breitbart.com+1.00
Trump: Meeting with Brazilian President on Trade, Tariffs ‘Went Very Well’ Trump: Meeting with Brazilian President on Trade, Tariffs ‘Went Very Well’. Reporting is limited at this
washington_times+0.60
Trade court strikes down Trump's second attempt at global tariffs Trade court strikes down Trump's second attempt at global tariffs Trade court strikes down Trump's second attempt
washingtontimes.com+0.60
Sources
19 of 19 linked articles