Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been placed under house arrest following an order by Brazil’s Supreme Court, drawing  criticism from the United States which has condemned the move and vowed to hold accountable those supporting what it calls sanctioned conduct.

The court decision was issued by Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who is leading investigations into Bolsonaro’s alleged involvement in plotting a coup. Bolsonaro, a right-wing former leader, denies the accusations.

According to Moraes, the house arrest was prompted by Bolsonaro’s failure to comply with restraining orders issued last month. The former president is accused of continuing to use networks linked to his allies and family members to circulate content encouraging attacks on the Supreme Court and inviting foreign interference in Brazil’s judicial processes.

Among the violations cited by the judge was a recent event in which Bolsonaro’s son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, briefly put his father on speakerphone during a pro-Bolsonaro rally in Rio de Janeiro.

A video of the exchange was later posted online by Flávio and subsequently deleted. The rallies took place across multiple Brazilian cities on Sunday, showing continued support for the former leader.

In addition to house arrest, Moraes has barred Bolsonaro from receiving visitors other than lawyers or individuals authorised by the court, and prohibited him from using a mobile phone either directly or through intermediaries.

These measures follow earlier restrictions that include the wearing of an ankle monitor, a curfew, a ban on social media use, and a prohibition on contacting his son Eduardo Bolsonaro, who has reportedly lobbied American officials on his father’s behalf. Moraes has claimed Bolsonaro was working to persuade former US President Donald Trump to interfere in the legal proceedings.

The US State Department responded to the court’s decision, stating on X that it “condemns” the ruling and “will hold accountable all those aiding and abetting sanctioned conduct.”

Meanwhile, Trump has weighed in on the issue, defending Bolsonaro by calling the trial a “witch-hunt” and using it as justification for imposing a 50 percent tariff on certain Brazilian exports, despite the US enjoying a trade surplus with the country.

Trump and Bolsonaro had a close relationship during their overlapping terms in office and met at the White House in 2019. In a recent post, Trump expressed support for Bolsonaro, saying he “was not guilty of anything” and describing him as “a strong leader” who “truly loved his country.”

Bolsonaro’s legal team, as quoted by Reuters, denied violating any court order and announced plans to appeal the decision.