The United States government has revoked the visa of Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, the Brazilian ambassador to the United States. A senior State Department official confirmed the move on Tuesday, characterizing the decision as a reciprocal action following Brazil’s refusal to grant formal approval for President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to Brazil, Daniel Perez.
Visa Revocation as Reciprocal Measure
Perez, a Florida state representative and an ally of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was nominated for the post on June 1. According to State Department officials, the Brazilian government has withheld the required diplomatic agrément for weeks, with indications suggesting that approval may be delayed until after Brazil’s presidential election in October.
The revocation does not constitute an expulsion of the ambassador from the United States. Instead, the official stated that Viotti remains in the country without a valid visa. The administration indicated that the visa status could be restored if the diplomatic impasse is resolved through the approval of the U.S. ambassadorial nominee.
Tensions Over Denied Diplomatic Visas
The decision to revoke the ambassador’s visa follows Brazil’s denial of entry to two American diplomats last month. The officials, from the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, had planned a visit to Brasilia between July 27 and July 30.
The State Department described the planned trip as a routine engagement intended to discuss election integrity, religious freedom, and freedom of expression. However, the Brazilian government rejected these stated goals, alleging that the visit was a ploy
to undermine the nation’s electoral system ahead of the October 4 polls. The U.S. government has dismissed these allegations as baseless
lies.
Brazilian Government Response
In an official statement released Tuesday, the Brazilian government condemned the U.S. decision, labeling the justifications provided by Washington as false.
Brazil argued that the consideration of the ambassadorial nominee was being handled in accordance with international diplomatic norms, asserting that the United States should have secured Brazilian consent before publicly announcing the nomination.
The Brazilian statement characterized the visa revocation as part of a deliberate escalation of hostile measures
against the country, driven by ideological motives. Officials in Brasilia maintain that the U.S. actions are incompatible with a bilateral partnership guided by mutual respect.
Broader Diplomatic and Trade Rift
The current dispute occurs against a backdrop of mounting tensions between the Trump administration and the government of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The relationship has been further strained by trade and security disagreements.
Last month, the United States imposed tariffs on Brazilian products, citing unfair trade practices and concerns regarding rules regulating U.S. tech platforms. President Lula has denied these claims, suggesting the measures are politically motivated. Additionally, the Trump administration recently designated two Brazilian drug-trafficking groups, the First Command Capital and the Red Command, as foreign terrorist organizations—a move that the Lula administration has criticized.
The political climate in Brazil is currently shaped by the upcoming October election, in which President Lula faces Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. The senator is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, an ally of President Trump who is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence under house arrest for his role in an attempted coup following the 2022 election. While the State Department official noted that Washington respects the Brazilian people’s choice in their elections, they emphasized that the administration seeks to return to a normal, productive, transparent relationship
with their Brazilian counterparts.