US revokes visa for Brazilian envoy amid diplomatic standoff

A senior State Department official confirmed the decision on Tuesday, clarifying that the action does not constitute an expulsion but serves as a reciprocal measure. The visa will remain canceled until Brazil grants agrément to Daniel Perez, a Florida state representative and ally of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom Trump nominated for the post on June 1. Washington officials expressed frustration over weeks of administrative delays, describing the current state of diplomatic cooperation as untenable.

The friction stems from conflicting accusations of electoral interference. Brazil recently denied visas to two officials from the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, alleging the pair intended to undermine the upcoming October presidential election. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has characterized U.S. diplomatic efforts as meddling, positioning national sovereignty at the center of his campaign for a fourth term. Conversely, the Trump administration has criticized the Brazilian government for alleged censorship and judicial bias against conservatives. As both nations trade retaliatory measures—including recent U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods—the diplomatic impasse continues to shadow the lead-up to Brazil's national vote.