Brazil's Trump Plays Blame Game, Too

By far the most Trumpian leader in the Western Hemisphere is Brazil's far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, and it appears that pointing fingers at others to deflect blame is something he's shameless about, too. From the Associated Press:

"With Brazil emerging as one of the world’s most infected countries, President Jair Bolsonaro is deflecting all responsibility for the coronavirus crisis, casting blame on mayors, governors, an outgoing health minister and the media.

By contrast, he portrays himself as a clear-eyed crusader willing to defend an unpopular idea — that shutting down the economy to control COVID-19 will ultimately cause more suffering than allowing the disease to run its course. The refusal of governors to fall into line with his decree allowing gyms to open, he said, verged on authoritarianism." (our emphasis)

Bolsonaro gets even more Trumpian in his refusal to endorse Brazil's governors' stay-at-home orders and social distancing measures:

"Since the outbreak started, the Brazilian leader has avoided acknowledging the potential effects of his actions, particularly in undermining local leaders’ stay-at-home recommendations. A rare exception came in mid-April, as Bolsonaro appointed a new health minister tasked with sparing the economy from the coronavirus.

'Reopening commerce is a risk I run because, if it (the virus) gets worse, then it lands in my lap,' he said.

Less than two weeks later, as Brazil’s death toll blew past 5,000, he told reporters, 'You’re not going to put on my lap this count that isn’t mine.'"  (our emphasis)

Brazil is not an insignificant nation: population of 211 million, South America's biggest economy, and a major exporter. As with the U.S., their leader is a stone cold sociopath who will never take responsibility like a man, and who will always find better people to blame for his shortcomings.

(photo: Mass graves near Sao Paulo. Rex Features)