Brazil Confirms Appointment of Bolsonaro’s Son Eduardo as Ambassador to the U.S.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ernesto Araújo, confirmed on Friday that the Brazilian government has formally appointed Federal Deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of president Jair Bolsonaro, to head the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, the U.S. capital.

According to Araújo, the request for the formal agrément (confirmation) has already been submitted to the U.S. government. Late last month, Eduardo joined his father in a private meeting with the American president, Donald Trump, at the White House, a task generally performed by the Brazilian chancellor.

“I am very sure that the agrément will be granted by the U.S. government and that Eduardo Bolsonaro will be an outstanding ambassador,” Araújo praised in a press conference.

The prospect of nepotism in Eduardo’s appointment to the embassy caused Jair Bolsonaro to comment on the subject in a live broadcast on social media. Bolsonaro said: “If I can give a tenderloin to my son, I’ll give it to him,” in reference to the appointment. He then argued that the decision aims to improve the relationship with the Trump government.

“But this has nothing to do with tenderloin. It’s actually about strengthening our relationship with a country that is the world’s largest economic and military power,” he added.

Eduardo Bolsonaro defended his nomination for the position. “I’m president of the Foreign Relations Committee [of the Chamber], I’ve already done a student exchange, I’ve fried hamburger in the United States,” he said. The statement was criticized by leaders in Congress and became a meme on social media.