Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday, asserting that 125 million people had voted in a 'presidential election' in India held that Sunday. The claim is false; India elects its president through an electoral college, not a nationwide popular vote. The figure closely mirrors Brazil’s first‑round turnout of 125.27 million votes.
Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court reported 47.03% for Flávio Bolsonaro and 45.16% for Lula, with 99.99% of ballots counted.
Because neither candidate crossed the 50% threshold, a runoff is set for October 25, sparking speculation that Brazil may tilt right‑wing.
Social‑media users slammed Trump, pointing out India’s indirect system and correcting the misattribution.
Josemar Lauriano Pereira, a lawyer in Rio, noted that Brazil’s electronic voting delivers swift results, reducing the window for doubt.
The misstatement is poised for a correction from Trump’s fact‑checking team, as fact‑checkers like PolitiFact and Snopes prepare to debunk the claim in the coming days.