President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva departed for the United States on Sunday, September 20, to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. The trip includes a meeting with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday, September 21, and a speech at the UN scheduled for Tuesday, September 22.
Agenda in New York
At the UN, Lula is expected to address the fight against organized crime and criticize what he calls foreign interference in Brazil’s elections, without directly naming the United States. The speech is expected to emphasize sovereignty, democracy and multilateralism, while pointing to weaknesses in regional crime-fighting strategies.
A possible meeting with Trump
No formal meeting between Lula and US President Donald Trump is scheduled, but the Brazilian leader said he hopes for an encounter on the sidelines of the Assembly. “I’m going to New York to tell Trump: don’t interfere in Brazil’s election,” Lula said ahead of the trip.
Background: tension over public security
The trip comes amid friction between Brasília and Washington. The US government designated the criminal factions PCC and Comando Vermelho as terrorist organizations and has criticized Brazil’s handling of organized crime — an accusation the Brazilian government rejects.
Information updated on September 21, 2026, based on national press coverage.
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