Trump in Congress”: Recess, Committees, and the Sovereignty Dilemma

Hugo Motta Blocks Committees, Halts Bolsonarist Agendas

Chamber President Hugo Motta (Republicanos‑PB) officially suspended all committee meetings during the recess, halting a Bolsonarist plan to push motions in favor of former president Jair Bolsonaro and criticizing the Supreme Court. This strategic move served as a containment of far-right political mobilization.

Deputies Defy Rules, Display Trump Flag Inside Congress

Despite the official suspension, several pro-Bolsonaro deputies from the Committees on Public Security and Foreign Relations entered the chamber and held an impromptu gathering. During the event, deputy Delegado Caveira (PL-PA) unfurled a “Make America Great Again” banner in support of Donald Trump, echoing the U.S. trade war policies against Brazil.

The act caused internal friction. The PL leadership ordered the banner's immediate removal, and deputy Paulo Bilynskyj (PL-SP) attempted to minimize the gesture, saying the flag was “not the event's focus.”

Legal Backlash and Party Tensions

The flag stunt inside Congress triggered legal scrutiny. Deputy Marcelo Uchôa (PL) may face formal complaints, with experts arguing that the act could violate internal congressional rules, and even jeopardize the PL party’s legal registration.

A Symbolic Gesture with Geopolitical Echoes

This episode highlights:

1. Conflicted allegiances – Lawmakers showing symbolic support for foreign leaders while claiming to defend national interests.

2. Geopolitical pressure – As the U.S. imposes tariffs on Brazil, the use of Trump’s imagery seems to undermine Brazil’s diplomatic standing.

3. Internal party disarray – Trump, not Bolsonaro, became the symbol of the protest, revealing ideological shifts within the PL party.

What This Teaches Us

• Institutional norms still hold: The chamber's leadership retains control, even during recesses.

• Symbols matter: The Trump flag was more than decoration—it was a message of defiance and allegiance.

• Democracy is active, even in silence: The tension in symbolic spaces shows that the political struggle continues beyond voting sessions.

Sources:

• ICL Notícias – “Deputados contra o Brasil”

• Brasil247 – “Hugo Motta resists Bolsonarist pressure and blocks committee meetings”

• Brasil247 – “Marcelo Uchôa (PL) may lose party registration after Trump flag protest”

• Correio Braziliense & Metrópoles – Reports on internal disputes and symbolic provocations in Congress

Aline Brito/Portal iG