Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered that the former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro be put under house arrest.
He is standing trial over allegations he plotted a coup, which he denies.
The judge in charge of investigating Bolsonaro, Alexandre de Moraes, said the decision was because Bolsonaro hadn’t complied with restraining orders put on him last month.
In response to the order, Bolsonaro’s legal team denied breaching any restraining order and said they would appeal the ruling, according to Reuters news agency.
In a statement on X, the US state department said it “condemns” the court order and “will hold accountable all those aiding and abetting sanctioned conduct”.
Donald Trump has used Bolsonaro’s trial, which he calls a “witch-hunt”, as a justification for imposing 50% tariffs on some Brazilian goods despite the US having a trade surplus with Brazil.
Mr Moraes, who the US has also sanctioned, said Bolsonaro had used the social networks of his allies including his sons to spread messages that encouraged attacks on the Supreme Court and foreign intervention in the Brazilian judiciary.
On Sunday, pro-Bolsonaro rallies were held in various Brazilian cities. One of his sons, Flávio, who is a senator, briefly put his father on speakerphone to the crowd in Rio de Janeiro.
Flávio also reportedly later published a video, which he deleted afterwards, of his father on the other side of the call sending a message to supporters.
Mr Moraes cited the incident in his ruling, saying Bolsonaro “deliberately flouted” previous restrictions, according to local media.
