The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump designated Brazil's two largest organized criminal organizations, Primeiro Comando da Capital and the Comando Vermelho, as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a press statement May 28.

The announcement followed Rubio's May 27 meeting with Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro and the leading far-right candidate in Brazil's October presidential election. Flavio had pushed for the terrorist designation during a meeting with Trump the day before. President Lula openly opposed the designation but said he did not discuss the issue in an in-person meeting with Trump on May 13.