Brazil’s Ex-President Bolsonaro Placed Under House Arrest Amid Coup Plot Trial.

Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to be placed under house arrest, accusing him of breaching a social media ban during his trial for allegedly attempting to stage a coup following his 2022 election loss.

The move intensifies the ongoing conflict between Bolsonaro and the judiciary.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case, cited Bolsonaro’s repeated defiance of court restrictions, including a ban on using social media or having others share his public messages during the trial.

The latest violation came when Bolsonaro appeared via video call at a pro-Bolsonaro rally in Rio de Janeiro, with footage circulated online by his supporters. Moraes said the court would not tolerate being treated with contempt by powerful individuals.

As part of the new restrictions, Bolsonaro must remain at his Brasília residence, is barred from receiving visitors other than his legal team, and cannot use mobile devices. Authorities also confiscated several phones from his home.

The 70-year-old former president, who led Brazil from 2019 to 2022, was previously ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor and observe a curfew as part of his pre-trial conditions.

He faces serious charges tied to an alleged plot involving seven others to overturn the 2022 election results.

Prosecutors say the plan collapsed after the military declined to participate. If convicted, Bolsonaro could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison. The trial is expected to conclude soon.

The U.S. government, under President Donald Trump who returned to office in 2024 condemned Bolsonaro’s house arrest.

The State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs criticized Justice Moraes, calling him a threat to democracy and defending Bolsonaro’s right to speak freely.

Bolsonaro’s son, Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, echoed this sentiment, branding Moraes a “psychopath” and alleging Brazil has ceased to be a democracy.

The Trump administration has already sanctioned Moraes, banning him from entering the U.S. and freezing his assets, while Moraes has positioned himself as a bulwark against far-right extremism in Brazil.

Bolsonaro’s political future remains uncertain, but his support base is still active. Recent rallies in cities like Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Brasília included U.S. flags and pro-Trump slogans, reflecting Bolsonaro’s aspirations for a Trump-style return in the 2026 presidential election.

Although he is currently barred from running, he hopes to overturn that decision.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 79, has hinted he may run for re-election in 2026, depending on his health. Last year, he was briefly hospitalized following a brain hemorrhage after a fall.