President Donald Trump singled out Brazil for import taxes of 50% on Wednesday specifically because of its treatment of its former president, Jair Bolsonaro. (Scripps News)

Brazil’s foreign ministry has asked the highest representative of the US government in Brasilia to explain an embassy statement echoing President Donald Trump’s claims that former leader Jair Bolsonaro is facing political persecution,

By Ricardo Brito BRASILIA (Reuters) -Tensions between the United States and Brazil intensified on Wednesday after Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the U.S. embassy's chargé d'affaires over a statement defending former Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro,