Jason Miller Is Right: Lula’s Admission That He Can Lie to World Leaders Is a Disgrace
By Hotspotnews
In a moment that should shock every serious observer of international affairs, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stood before a crowd and casually declared that he can lie to any president in the world. Former senior Trump advisor Jason Miller saw the clip, shared by Eduardo Bolsonaro, and responded with the only honest reaction possible: “This is messed up.”
Miller is correct. It is messed up. And it is revealing.
The video, captured during a campaign-style rally at Estádio 1º de Maio in São Bernardo do Campo on August 16, shows Lula telling supporters: “I can lie to any person in the world. I can lie to any president in the world, but I have no right [to lie] because I learned from Dona Lindu not to lie to those who trust me… then you can be sure of my loyalty to you.”
The framing is classic Lula: present an admission of potential duplicity as proof of personal virtue toward his base. He learned from his mother not to deceive “those who trust me.” Everyone else—including fellow heads of state—is fair game. Eduardo Bolsonaro’s caption cut through the spin: “Lula: ‘I can lie to any president in the world.’ I think everyone already knows that…” Miller’s terse reply simply named the obvious moral failure.
From a conservative perspective, this is not a charming rhetorical flourish or folksy honesty. It is a president of a major nation openly signaling that truth is negotiable when dealing with foreign leaders. In diplomacy, trust is the currency. Alliances, trade deals, security cooperation, and crisis management all depend on the assumption that counterparts will not treat deception as a routine tool. When a head of state boasts that he can lie to his peers, he is advertising unreliability. That is not strength; it is a liability.
This fits a broader pattern. Lula’s long political career has been marked by ethical controversies, from the Mensalão scandal through the Lava Jato revelations that once landed him in prison. Supporters may dismiss those as political persecution. But a sitting president volunteering that he retains the capacity and apparent willingness to deceive other world leaders is self-indictment. Conservatives who prioritize integrity in public office, national interest over ideology, and clear-eyed realism about authoritarian-leaning leftists should take note.
Miller’s reaction carries weight precisely because of his background. As a senior advisor across Trump’s campaigns and transition efforts, he understands how American policymakers view partners who treat truth as optional. Under a Trump administration that has prioritized reciprocity and strength, statements like Lula’s do not build confidence. They raise questions about whether Brazil under PT leadership can be counted on in matters ranging from trade to hemispheric security. Miller has previously been blunt about Lula and the Brazilian left; this time the target handed him the evidence on a platter.
Critics will claim the quote is “taken out of context” or that Lula was only affirming loyalty to ordinary Brazilians. The full remarks do emphasize that he will not lie to his supporters. That does not erase the problem. A president who feels compelled to announce that he could deceive other presidents—while claiming moral high ground with his base—is telling the world exactly how he approaches power. Conservatives reject the notion that ends justify means, or that loyalty to one constituency licenses deceit toward others. Character is not selective.
Brazil deserves better than leaders who treat truth as a political convenience. The Brazilian people, and the international community that must deal with Brasília, deserve straight talk and reliable partners. Jason Miller called it what it is. More voices on the right, in both countries, should do the same. Honesty in leadership is not optional. When a president advertises his readiness to lie to his peers, the only proper response is the one Miller gave: this is messed up.