Brazil’s first lady Rosângela Lula da Silva, known as Janja, caused a political stir on Wednesday after interjecting in a press scrum at the Itamaraty Palace with the phrase “Ai, esses vira-latas” (“Oh, these mongrels”). The remark came as reporters pressed President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva about U.S. plans, announced by President Donald Trump, to impose a 50% tariff on all Brazilian exports starting 1 August. Janja’s press office later said the expression targeted pro-Bolsonaro politicians whom she accuses of undermining national interests, not the journalists present. The clarification failed to quell criticism: opposition deputy Nikolas Ferreira said the first lady had become “Lula’s worst enemy,” while other lawmakers accused her of insulting millions of Brazilians. Members of the government embraced the rhetoric. Communications Minister Paulo Pimenta labelled domestic supporters of Trump “covardes vira-latas” (‘cowardly mongrels’) in a congressional speech defending Brazil’s sovereignty. The exchange added to the heated atmosphere surrounding Trump’s tariff move, which Washington says addresses trade imbalances and political concerns over the treatment of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Separately, the Foreign Ministry summoned the U.S. chargé d’affaires in Brasília for explanations over the planned tariff hike and a statement from the U.S. Embassy backing Trump’s position. Lula has not publicly responded to the tariff threat, but officials say the administration is assessing retaliatory options while seeking diplomatic channels to reverse the measure.