A person with direct knowledge of the discussions said Joesley Batista, one of the owners of global meatpacker JBS and a principal of the J&F family group, was a key intermediary in organizing a face-to-face meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday in Washington.
Plane-tracking information from FlightAware showed a jet owned by the J&F group scheduled to fly from Colorado to Washington on Wednesday. The aircraft's movement is consistent with reported travel linked to the preparations for the bilateral encounter.
The planned meeting had been under discussion since January, after the two presidents spoke by phone. The talks were deprioritized for a time as the White House shifted attention to the war in Iran, according to the account of the person with direct knowledge. U.S. officials reached out last week to offer the meeting for Thursday, renewing plans for the in-person engagement.
People close to the matter said Batista's involvement highlights the influence exercised by certain business figures in shaping access to the current U.S. administration. In January, Batista met Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez surrounding separate meetings with U.S. officials; those sessions included efforts to reassure American interlocutors about Caracas' openness to foreign investment in its oil and gas sector, according to the timeline of events.
Last year, the same aircraft that was tracked en route to Washington made a flight to Venezuela's capital amid press accounts that Batista was seeking to persuade then-President Nicolas Maduro to step down. A second source confirmed that Joesley Batista and his brother Wesley are currently in the United States, and that Wesley originally traveled to Colorado. That second source declined to comment on their specific role in the Lula-Trump meeting arrangements.
J&F declined to comment when asked about the flights and any involvement in brokering the meeting.
The shuttle diplomacy underscores Batista's access to political and business audiences in Washington and across the Americas. JBS maintains significant operations in the United States. Pilgrim's Pride, a U.S.-based poultry producer that is majority owned by JBS, made a $5 million donation to President Trump's 2025 inauguration committee - the largest single disclosed contribution to that committee.
Summary
According to a person with direct knowledge, Joesley Batista of the J&F/JBS group helped arrange a Washington meeting between Presidents Trump and Lula. FlightAware data recorded a J&F-owned jet flying from Colorado to Washington as officials renewed the encounter after earlier delays linked to the U.S. response to the Iran war. J&F declined to comment; a second source confirmed the Batistas are in the United States.
Key points
- Joesley Batista is reported to have brokered the meeting between Presidents Trump and Lula, highlighting business influence in diplomatic access.
- FlightAware tracking showed a J&F-owned jet moving from Colorado to Washington ahead of the scheduled Thursday meeting.
- JBS has substantial U.S. operations; Pilgrim's Pride, majority-owned by JBS, donated $5 million to Trump's 2025 inauguration committee.
Risks and uncertainties
- Sources declined to provide full details on Batista's role, leaving uncertainty about the extent of private-sector influence on the meeting - relevant to political and regulatory sectors.
- The timing and rescheduling of the meeting were affected by shifting U.S. foreign policy priorities, illustrating how geopolitical events can alter diplomatic agendas - relevant to international relations and energy markets.
- J&F's refusal to comment and limited confirmation from second sources leave open questions about the depth of the family's involvement, which could affect perceptions of corporate-political ties - relevant to the corporate governance and investor relations sectors.