Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s presidential campaign has accused former U.S. President Donald Trump of attempting to "colonise" Brazil by interfering in its upcoming presidential election to gain access to the country's natural resources. This claim was featured in a televised campaign ad released by Lula’s team, which warned that Trump is supporting Lula’s far-right rival, Flávio Bolsonaro, to advance American interests in Brazil. The ad’s narrator stated, “Flávio Bolsonaro is Trump’s candidate and what Trump wants is to colonise Brazil, take our riches, steal our future and leave us in the dust.” The campaign has linked this alleged interference to recent reports of U.S. influence efforts, including claims of involvement by major technology companies and a confidential warning from Brazil’s intelligence agency about risks to the election. The U.S. State Department has denied any involvement in Brazil’s election, calling the accusations a "baseless lie." Lula has also accused Bolsonaro of being willing to hand over Brazil’s natural resources to the United States, warning that a Bolsonaro victory would "make Brazil a colony again." With less than a week until the first round of the October 4 election, Lula and Bolsonaro are nearly tied in the polls, meaning a second round could be needed if neither wins a majority. Concerns have grown about U.S. influence, including reports of economic pressure such as 25% tariffs on Brazilian imports. At the United Nations General Assembly, Lula indirectly criticized the U.S. for what he described as interference in Brazil’s democratic process, saying, “We will not allow the enemies of democracy – internal or external – to attack the will of the people. Brazilian democracy belongs to the Brazilians.” Earlier, Democratic Party members in the U.S. wrote to Senator Marco Rubio to express concerns about the Trump administration’s alleged "sustained, multifaceted campaign of interference and destabilisation" in Brazil. The campaign ad also referenced a confidential intelligence report warning of a "critical level" of risk from U.S. interference, as well as alleged links between Bolsonaro’s campaign and a conservative donor group linked to Trump’s vice-president, JD Vance. Éden Valadares, communications secretary for Lula’s Workers’ Party, said the ad was intended to inform Brazilians about U.S. influence efforts, adding that the campaign would not remain passive. “President Lula has instructed us … to mobilise Brazilian society … [and] to react in the streets,” Valadares said, mentioning planned nationwide events for the following Sunday. These concerns are not limited to the left; another right-wing candidate, Renan Santos, also criticized Trump, saying he did not want Brazil to become a U.S. "vassal state" and warning of potential interference in securing contracts over rare earths. The U.S. lawmakers who wrote to Rubio requested a commitment from the Trump administration to respect Brazil’s electoral process, but the State Department has yet to respond to further questions.