What Trump can learn from Lula and Netanyahu
Elections in Brazil and Israel offer a blueprint back to relevancy.
As Joe Biden declared his victory over Medicare during a debate, Washington seemed to believe that unseating an 80-year-old president was a simple task. However, voters in Brazil and Israel offered a stark reminder that an aging leader often holds significant sway in their respective countries. In Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, now 81, secured a decisive majority for his fourth term, surprising many who thought he was becoming obsolete.
Similarly, in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the country's longest-serving premier at 77, lost his parliamentary majority but managed to prevent a viable coalition from forming. Despite their age, both Lula and Netanyahu have built resilient political support among voters on both the left and right, seen as tireless champions for their respective constituencies and shields against formidable foes.
President Trump, who took office in 2025, has struggled to deliver tangible policy victories and has lost some key components of his populist base. While campaigning in 2024, Trump pledged to curb inflation and combat foreign wars, but his recent actions, such as passing costly legislation, escalating a trade war, and attempting regime change in Iran, have led to higher costs for health care, consumer goods, and energy.
His campaign rhetoric, filled with partisan attacks and eccentric ideas, lacks a coherent message. In contrast, Lula's campaign emphasized regional and class divisions, offering welfare increases, free weekend public transit, and a shorter workweek. Netanyahu's strategy included apocalyptic warnings about nuclear strikes on Tel Aviv, branding opponents as soft on Iran, and vilifying Arab parties.
If Trump had adopted Lula or Netanyahu's focused and determined approach, he might still be unpopular but could retain control over the Senate in red states, rather than currently battling for marginal gains in Kansas and Mississippi. The 2026 midterms present a critical juncture for Trump, who has dominated American politics for nearly a decade and a half.
Even if Republicans suffer a significant defeat, Trump will still have two years to regroup, reconnect with his base, and fight for relevance and recovery. Opponents should heed the warning from Brazil and Israel: be cautious of an aging leader who is in a hurry.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
