Biden condemns ‘assault on democracy’ in Brazil as Democrats compare riots to January 6

President Biden condemned the pro-Bolsonaro attack on Brazil’s Capitol and presidential palace Monday, with many Democrats comparing the incident to the pro-Trump storming of the U.S. Capitol in January 2021.

Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attacked the country’s Congress, Presidential Palace and Supreme Court on Sunday. Bolsonaro, who is hidden away in Florida, denied involvement in the violence. Brazilian authorities were able to retake control of the government buildings by Sunday evening.

“I condemn the assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil,” Biden wrote in a statement. “Brazil’s democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined. I look forward to continuing to work with President Lula.”

Brazilian media reports that as many as 1,200 pro-Bolsonaro protesters have been arrested and detained at the Brazilian Army headquarters near the capital.