Brazil’s top court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to stay under house arrest. The decision came after he broke court rules tied to a probe into an alleged attempt to overturn the 2022 election. On Monday, Justice Alexandre de Moraes ruled that Bolsonaro had violated a social media ban that began last month. The court had also ordered him to wear an ankle monitor.

Bolsonaro Accused of Using Others’ Accounts

Justice Moraes claimed that Bolsonaro used the social media accounts of his supporters to spread political messages. On Sunday, posts appeared online calling for public protests, attacking the Supreme Court, and encouraging foreign influence over Brazil’s judicial system. These posts went public while Bolsonaro supporters were holding rallies across the country. Moraes wrote, “There is no doubt the conditions of the precautionary measures were violated.”

Tight House Arrest Conditions

The court has now restricted Bolsonaro to a mansion he rents in a gated area in southern Brasília. Only his close family and lawyers are allowed to visit him. But even they are not allowed to bring phones, take pictures, or record videos during visits. Moreover, federal police have been ordered to confiscate all phones found at the property.

Phone Rally Appearance Raises Stakes

Despite his ban from social media, Bolsonaro still managed to address supporters during a rally at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. He spoke through a phone call, which his son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, held up to a microphone so the crowd could hear.

Flávio later posted a video of the moment but deleted it shortly after. Moraes responded, calling it “a blatant attempt” to hide what happened. “The breach was so obvious that even the defendant’s son felt compelled to erase the evidence from Instagram,” the judge noted.

Bolsonaro Faces Larger Coup Probe

This house arrest is part of a bigger case. Bolsonaro is being investigated for allegedly trying to overturn his 2022 election loss to current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. If convicted, Bolsonaro could face more than 40 years in prison. The court expects to wrap up the trial later this year.

Public Protests in Support of Bolsonaro

Thousands of Bolsonaro’s supporters gathered near Brazil’s central bank in Brasília on Sunday. Many waved banners backing him and even called on former US President Donald Trump to step in. A protester named Álvaro Junior, 64, held a sign reading “Thank you, Trump” and told reporters, “I’d like to give Trump a hug and thank him for caring about us.”

Trump Hits Back with Tariffs

The United States recently added 50 percent tariffs on Brazilian goods. Trump said the move was to support Bolsonaro and push back against what he called a “witch hunt.” Bolsonaro’s supporters welcomed the move. One of them, wearing a red MAGA hat, said, “We now feel even more admiration and love for the American people.”

Trump Administration Targets Brazilian Judge

Last week, Trump’s team imposed sanctions on Justice Moraes. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Moraes of leading a crackdown involving “censorship, arbitrary arrests, and political prosecutions, including against Bolsonaro.”

Moraes Says Bolsonaro Is Defying the Law

In his latest comments, Justice Moraes stated that Bolsonaro had shown greater defiance in breaking the law. He also accused the former president of trying to use a foreign leader to influence Brazil’s legal system. Moraes described this act as a “clear violation of national sovereignty.”