US revokes Brazil ambassador's visa in diplomatic dispute

The United States has revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to Washington, a senior State Department official confirmed on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, escalating a diplomatic dispute between the two nations. The action was described as a reciprocal measure following Brazil’s delay in approving the U.S. ambassadorial nominee and its denial of visas to two American diplomats last month.

Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti is not being expelled from the United States, officials stressed, and her visa would be restored if the impasse is resolved. The move specifically responds to Brazil withholding formal diplomatic approval, known as agrément, for Daniel Perez, a former Florida House speaker nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as U.S. ambassador to Brazil. A State Department official said the U.S. had given Brazil “every opportunity to do the right thing” and that the government of Brazil “owes us a prompt and positive answer to our request.”

Tensions have been building for weeks. In July, Brazil denied visas to two officials from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor who had planned a visit to discuss election integrity, religious...