"There is an official over there who does not like Brazil or Latin America and who is a Bolsonarist: the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. He does not like us," Lula said.

Lula also referred to Rubio's Cuban heritage, describing him as "perhaps a frustrated Latin American because his family left Cuba" and claiming the US secretary of state "hates Cuba, hates Colombia and hates Brazil."

The remarks come after Washington imposed a 25 per cent tariff on many Brazilian goods in July, followed by an additional 12.5 per cent levy linked to US measures against countries it says do not adequately restrict imports made with forced labour. Some products are exempt.

Lula said he learned of the latest tariff increase through the media and claimed it would leave Brazil with a $7.4 billion shortfall.

"Tell him how a president of a country that is not as rich as the United States can guarantee every Brazilian citizen the same health treatment that the president of the Republic will receive," Lula said.

The United States formally left the WHO on 22nd January 2026, a year after Trump ordered the withdrawal on his first day back in office. The WHO said Washington halted its funding and left about $260 million in unpaid contributions, warning the move leaves "both the United States and the rest of the world in a less safe situation."

Lula also highlighted his government's healthcare policies and the expansion of public health services in Rio de Janeiro during the hospital visit.

“We do not believe that this is going to have an impact on the diplomatic side of the two countries,” Ravier told reporters at the Casa Rosada.

He added that Argentina had no intention of allowing the dispute to affect trade between the two “brotherly peoples”, noting that both countries are major trading partners and members of Mercosur.

“It is part of the game,” Ravier said, adding that insults had come from both sides in the past but had not been taken to the diplomatic level by Argentina.

Milei called Lula a “thief” and a “criminal” during a Liberal Party event in Sao Paulo on Saturday, where he backed Flavio Bolsonaro’s presidential candidacy.

Lula later responded that Brazil would not accept anyone “sticking their nose where it does not belong”.

Brazil subsequently recalled its ambassador to Argentina, Julio Bitelli, for consultations.

"This is a simulation of my image and my voice made with artificial intelligence. I am imprisoned and silenced by an unjust and arbitrary decision, based on something I never did. But I guarantee you one thing: no prison will silence the feeling of hope that we awakened," the AI-generated message said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also appeared in a recorded video congratulating Flavio Bolsonaro on his nomination.

"You are a great defender of Brazil . You are a great defender of the friendship between our peoples. And I know that you will lead Brazil to achieve ever greater accomplishments. Congratulations," Netanyahu said.

In his speech, Flavio Bolsonaro described the 2018 stabbing of his father, his imprisonment and the restrictions placed on him as three attempts to remove Jair Bolsonaro from political life. He accused opponents of "silencing the greatest leader of the right that this country has had" and pledged to "free Brazil" from what he called "the dirty hands of Lula and the Workers' Party."

He also said he leaves home each day wearing a bulletproof vest and accompanied by security , but that it would not stop him from running.

"With that purpose, today I assume, before God and before all of you, my Brazilian nation, the mission of being a candidate for the presidency of the Republic of Brazil of the future," he said.

Flavio Bolsonaro also called for constitutional changes, lower taxes and tougher criminal laws, including treating 14-year-olds convicted of rape as adults, longer prison terms for assaults on women and chemical castration for people convicted of raping children .

At a separate Workers' Party convention, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said "this 80-year-old young man will win the elections again", signalling his intention to seek a fourth presidential term overall. Lula is currently serving his third, non-consecutive term.