President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil met with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday
They discussed Trump's tariffs on Brazilian goods and other economic matters, according to Trump, but did not appear together in front of the press
After lunch, Trump posted on social media that the meeting "went very well" and additional meetings between representatives would take place in coming months
Critical minerals were also believed to be on the agenda, with Lula saying Brazil welcomes investment from any country in that sector
The two leaders appear to have maintained the good rapport they established during a meeting in 2025, despite differing stances on a number of issues
Trump has a close relationship with Lula's predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, who has since been found guilty of planning a coup to stay in power
Brazilian President Lula is now inside the White House with Trump.
But we're still waiting for the two to appear before cameras in the Oval Office - which is nearly an hour behind schedule.
Brazil holds between 20% and 23% of the world's rare earth reserves, the second largest after China, by most estimates.
These minerals are essential for making fighter jets, semiconductors, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence systems, medical devices, computers, and telephones—in short, virtually all the technology that moves the world.
The US is seeking to build a stockpile of these mineral in an operation called Project Vault. And the country want to do it while minimising a reliance on China.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping retaliated against Trump in 2025 by restricting the export of rare earth elements, making it clear that China will wield its dominance in strategic mining is as a weapon in trade negotiations.
That's where Brazil comes in.
An alliance with Brazil, for example, could help the US reduce its dependence on China, an expert tells the BBC.
However, the Lula government seems to have no reason to rush into signing a agreement with the Americans.
That may be on the table for discussion today.
Camilla Veras Mota
BBC Brasil, reporting from São Paulo
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesOne area of discussion during today's visit will be about Pix, the instant payment system developed by Brazil's central bank.
Last year, the Trump administration opened an investigation into Brazil's payment system industry. While the formal notice makes no mention of Pix, it includes an implicit reference to it.
"Brazil also appears to engage in a number of unfair practices with respect to electronic payment services, including but not limited to advantaging its government-developed electronic payment services," the notice says.
In a separate report, US trade officials said stakeholders "have expressed concerns that the Central Bank of Brazil provides preferential treatment to Pix, that disadvantages US electronic payment services suppliers."
The Brazilian government has fiercely defended Pix and framed the dispute as a matter of national sovereignty.
"Pix belongs to Brazil," President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said recently. "Nobody is going to make us change Pix, because of the service it is providing to Brazilian society."
Read more of our coverage from BBC Brasil (in Portuguese) here.
Lula's motorcade has arrived at the White House, our correspondent who is there for the meeting tells us.
The meeting between Trump and Lula will begin shortly.
The US-Brazil relationship broke down significantly last year after Trump imposed a 50% tariff on most of Brazil's goods last year.
This affected several key products, including coffee and beef, that Americans like to buy.
Trump framed the tariffs as retaliation for the prosecution of his ally, right-wing former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. He had been accused - and later convicted - of attempting to stage a coup after losing the 2022 presidential election to current President Lula.
The aim was to exert pressure on Brazilian authorities to back down on criminal proceedings against Bolsonaro. But in November, as prices rose at home, Trump reversed the tariffs.
His broader tariffs were also overturned by the US Supreme Court in February.
And in Brazil, Bolsonaro's legal troubles continue: he was sentenced to 27 years in prison and is currently under house arrest due to ill health.
Read more of our coverage on the Brazil tariffs here.
President Trump and Brazilian President Lula are set to meet and speak soon.
You can follow along with us here, or watch live at the top of this page.
Image source, Getty ImagesTrump had a strong relationship with Lula's predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro (left)
Last September, Lula told the BBC in an exclusive interview that he has "no relationship" with Donald Trump.
It was just the latest in a war of words between the two leaders since Trump put a high tariff - 50% - on goods from Brazil in 2025.
"The American people will pay for the mistakes President Trump is incurring in his relationship with Brazil," Lula said at the time. He also accused Trump of foreign interference and behaving like an "emperor".
Trump has previously said that Lula can "call him anytime." But Lula insisted that members of the Trump Administration "do not want to talk".
Part of the reason for Trump's high tariffs on Brazil was the trial and conviction of Lula's predecessor, the right-wing Jair Bolsonaro, who had a close relationship with Trump. He was found guilty of attempting a coup d'etat after he lost the 2022 election to Lula.
"His relationship is with Bolsonaro, not Brazil," Lula said of Trump.
But after a brief meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, relations seemed to thaw.
They spoke on the phone the next month, a conversation both leaders described as positive and friendly.
Trump said on his Truth Social platformthat the call "was mostly focused on the economy, and trade, between our two countries".
"We will be having further discussions, and will get together in the not too distant future, both in Brazil and the United States."
Today is that day - and it remains to be seen if the relations thaw further or not.
President Trump is expected to greet Brazilian President Lula outside the White House in about half an hour, around 11:00e (15:00b).
The two will then head inside for a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office, and we aniticipate getting to hear each of the leaders speak and answer questions from press.
Before Lula departs, the two leaders will then have lunch together, outside of reporters' view, scheduled to start at 11:45e.
We'll bring you lines and live video of the most important moments.
Image source, Getty ImagesTrump and Lula last met at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in October
This will be Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's first time visiting Trump at the White House after a tense year.
The two leaders briefly met during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in October.
They also spoke on the phone earlier that month, a call described by both sides as friendly and positive as Brazil sought to reduce the 50% US tariff on some of its goods.
Those tariffs played a large part in creating the tension that had overshadowed their relationship. Trump raised them last in response to the trial of Lula's predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, who was found guilty of plotting a military coup.
Lula had accused Trump of foreign interference and behaving like an "emperor".
But Lula described the October phone meeting as an opportunity to restore friendly relations between "the two largest Western democracies" and reminded everyone that the US had a trade surplus with Brazil.
Leandro Prazeres
BBC Brasil, reporting from Washington DC
Image source, Getty ImagesThis is Lula's second trip to Washington during his third term, but it will be his first official visit with US President Donald Trump.
Brazilian government sources tell the BBC that three economic issues will be high on the agenda for Lula's team:
Read more of our coverage from BBC Brasil (in Portuguese) here.
Daniel Bush
Washington correspondent
President Donald Trump will host Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the White House today for talks on tariffs, economic issues and combatting organised crime.
The two leaders have had a strained relationship since Trump returned to office, and the visit will be closely watched for signs of a breakthrough in disputes over tariffs and other issues.
Last year the US imposed a 40% tariff on Brazilian goods, in addition to a separate 10% tariff. Trump later lowered the rate but the trade dispute nevertheless damaged relations between the US and South America’s largest economy.
Trump also intervened in Brazilian politics last July when he wrote a letter to Lula asking that criminal charges be dropped against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro, a close Trump ally, was convicted last November of leading an attempted coup and sentenced to 27 years in prison.
Trump cited the Bolsonaro case as one factor in raising tariffs on Brazil.
We'll bring you the key lines from their meeting and analysis here.