President Donald Trump's once-strong ties with international allies are weakening, and even his most loyal supporters are now keeping their distance, according to a political analyst. James Ball, political editor at The New World, wrote in an analysis for The i Paper that Trump's global standing has deteriorated to the point where allies consider his brand «politically toxic.» Ball points to the recent actions of Brazil's Bolsonaro family as a striking example of this trend.
Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, was nominated for president in what should have been a proud moment for Trump. The Bolsonaros have long courted the Trump family, appearing at public events and aligning themselves with his administration. Yet during his nomination speech, Bolsonaro showed video messages from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Argentine President Javier Milei but made no mention of Trump whatsoever. Ball described the omission as a «snub» that the famously thin-skinned US president would surely be furious about.
The reason, Ball argues, is simple: «Trump is simply so politically toxic across the world these days that even his closest international allies are having to distance themselves from him.» The shift reflects a broader pattern of alienation that has been brewing for months. Trump's tariff policies, which have imposed heavy import duties on goods from many countries, have strained relations with many of America's oldest allies. According to Ball, «Trump's White House has spent most of the last 18 months alienating America's oldest and closest allies, in a bid to court a new international coalition of its own making. Now it's finding even they don't want to pick up the phone.»
The erosion of support is notable given that Trump had cultivated close relationships with right-wing populist leaders around the world. Jair Bolsonaro, who served as Brazil's president from 2019 to 2022, was often called the «Trump of the Tropics,» and the two leaders shared a strong political alliance. The Bolsonaro family members have been deeply involved in Trump's political orbit, attending events and offering public endorsements. However, as Trump's approval ratings have fallen at home and his policies have caused friction abroad, even these personal ties have frayed. The snub by Flávio Bolsonaro suggests that Brazilian politicians now see little benefit in associating with Trump at a time when his influence is waning.
Ball warns that the trend could make Trump's remaining time in office increasingly isolated. «Trump's remaining days in the Oval Office could become very lonely indeed,» he wrote. The analysis underscores the challenges Trump faces in foreign policy, where his unconventional approach has frequently alienated traditional partners. With the US presidential election approaching and ongoing trade disputes with Europe, China, and other regions, the prospects for rebuilding trust with international allies appear slim. Even within his own administration, tensions have simmered as advisors struggle to manage the fallout from tariffs and diplomatic spats.
In addition to Brazil, other world leaders have also kept their distance. The absence of Trump from video messages in Bolsonaro's speech, while Netanyahu and Milei were included, sends a clear signal about the company that Brazilian politicians now prefer. As the political landscape shifts, Trump's ability to rally international support appears significantly diminished. The analysis suggests that Trump's brand, once seen as a powerful tool for attracting populist allies, has become a liability that even his closest partners are unwilling to embrace.