Trump Media and Rumble Challenge Brazilian Court Ruling in U.S. Court

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — President Donald Trump‘s Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) and video-sharing platform Rumble filed an emergency motion in a U.S. court on February 22, seeking to temporarily halt a suspension imposed by Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Rumble’s service in Brazil.

The motion comes after Justice de Moraes ordered Rumble to cease operations in Brazil until the platform complied with national legal requirements, including appointing a local legal representative. This directive was issued following accusations of illegal censorship by Rumble, filed independently in a U.S. District Court in Tampa.

TMTG and Rumble contend that the Brazilian court’s orders violate American sovereignty and infringe upon U.S. Constitutional rights. In their press release, they stated that “Moraes’ rulings clearly violate American sovereignty, the U.S. Constitution, and U.S. laws.”

Justice de Moraes stipulated that Rumble must block content from Allan dos Santos, a digital influencer noted for his allegiance to former President Jair Bolsonaro, under investigation for alleged hate speech and misinformation. Failure to comply would result in daily fines, totaling $8,700. Dos Santos has been living in the United States and is regarded as a fugitive in Brazil.

In addition to halting Rumble’s services, Moraes suggested criminal charges could be filed against Rumble’s CEO, Chris Pavlovski, for refusing to comply with the orders. “If this type of end-run around U.S. law is allowed to stand, it will embolden other foreign officials to impose their censorship regimes on American companies without due process,” the emergency motion asserted.

The backdrop of this dispute involves ongoing tensions around misinformation and censorship laws in Brazil, especially highlighted during Bolsonaro’s administration. Justice de Moraes has previously enacted similar restrictions, notably banning the social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, for related noncompliance issues.

Rumble and TMTG have requested the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida grant an ex parte temporary restraining order and injunctive relief. They argue this is necessary to protect their First Amendment rights and to prevent further operational disruptions.

As of the time of this report, Brazil’s Supreme Court had not responded to inquiries regarding the matter. Observers are watching closely, as the ruling could set a significant precedent regarding foreign judicial authority over U.S.-based companies.