President Donald Trump is proving once again that real leadership means being willing to talk — even with those who don’t share your values. On Monday, Trump revealed that he had a “very good” phone call with Brazil’s far-left president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, discussing trade and economic cooperation. The two agreed to meet “in the not too distant future,” both in Brazil and the United States.

According to Trump, the 30-minute call centered on trade and the economy, areas where the United States has plenty of leverage. After all, Trump recently hit Brazil with a 40% tariff — on top of the 10% baseline — to push back against that country’s increasing censorship, persecution of conservatives, and its outrageous targeting of former President Jair Bolsonaro. In short, Trump sent a clear message: if you attack free speech and elections, you don’t get a free pass in global trade.

Lula, for his part, spent much of the conversation asking Trump to remove the tariff. Brazil exports roughly $40 billion in goods to the U.S. each year, with crude petroleum topping the list. No wonder Lula’s suddenly eager to “negotiate.” Brazilian officials described the call as “positive” — which is diplomatic-speak for “we’re desperate to avoid more tariffs.”

The irony here is rich. Just last month, Lula accused the Trump administration of using “tariff blackmail” and claimed BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — were “victims of unjustified trade practices.” Funny how quickly those words fade when the economic reality kicks in.

Trump’s message to Brazil has been consistent: stop silencing your people, stop attacking elections, and stop behaving like a dictatorship. In July, Trump blasted Brazil’s “insidious attacks on Free Elections and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans.” His administration even sanctioned Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes — the same judge accused of censoring opposition voices, freezing bank accounts, and banning Elon Musk’s platform X nationwide.

Let’s not forget, Moraes also led the political trial against Jair Bolsonaro, a close ally of Trump’s, accusing him of “plotting to overthrow the government.” Sound familiar? It’s the same playbook global elites use against any conservative leader who dares to challenge them.

But here’s the thing: Trump doesn’t back down. He calls out corruption, he stands up for freedom, and he’s still willing to engage — because that’s what strength looks like.

So while Lula might be hoping for a trade break, he’s now dealing with a U.S. president who actually defends free speech, stands by America’s allies, and won’t tolerate leftist censorship abroad. And if this call is any indication, Brazil just learned that there’s a new sheriff back in town — and his name is Donald J. Trump.