Brazilian president Lula slams Trump's Hormuz toll plan as "piracy"

Brazilian President Lula da Silva on Monday criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to take control of the Strait of Hormuz and levy a 20 percent transit fee, calling it "piracy."

Lula made the remarks during a visit to laboratory facilities at the Maua Institute of Technology in Sao Paulo State, responding to Trump's earlier social media posts and television interviews, where the U.S. leader claimed that the country would act as the strait's "guardian" and demand a 20 percent cargo surcharge for security.

The Brazilian president described the initiative to charge fees on maritime transit as neither democratic nor civilized, adding that it is "abnormal for someone to take advantage of a tragedy to make money" at the expense of others.