Trump mistakenly describes Brazil vote as India’s presidential election
US President Donald Trump mistakenly referred to Brazil’s presidential election as an Indian presidential vote in a social-media post attacking the US electoral system. He claimed 125 million people had voted in India, although India’s president is chosen by an electoral college rather than through a direct nationwide ballot.
US President Donald Trump mistakenly referred to Brazil’s presidential election as an Indian election in a social-media post attacking the American electoral system. Trump wrote on Truth Social that 125 million people had voted in the first round of India’s presidential election and that the results had been released shortly after voting ended on the same day. He compared the supposed process with elections in places including Detroit, Philadelphia and California, and claimed that US elections were corrupt.
The post appeared as Brazil held the first round of its presidential election. According to the supplied material, the contest is heading to a runoff between right-wing Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro and leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after neither won a majority. Flavio Bolsonaro received 47 per cent of the vote, while Lula received 45 per cent, the report says.
The runoff is scheduled for October 25. Trump’s reference to India was inaccurate in more than one respect. India’s president is not selected through a direct nationwide popular vote.
The president is elected by an electoral college, using proportional representation and the single transferable vote, with voting conducted by secret ballot. The error prompted reactions on social media. Some users questioned whether Trump was getting enough sleep, while others pointed out that India has a parliamentary system rather than a presidential one.
Another user joked that Brazil could be renamed India. The post was described as the latest in a series of country mix-ups attributed to Trump in the supplied material. In July, he referred to Iran as the “Islamic Republic of Japan” while discussing military operations and tensions with Tehran.
In January, he repeatedly referred to Greenland as Iceland during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The supplied account does not include a correction from Trump or further explanation of the post.
Vertrix News compared the attributed reports listed below and wrote this independent synthesis. Claims remain attributed where independent verification was unavailable.