By admin 
The Trump administration has revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the US, escalating a rift between Washington and Brasilia.
Read more Trump laid into Pirro in a tense White House meeting. But their long history might save her job
The State Department did not declare Amb. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti to be “persona non-grata,” and a senior State Department official said the cancelation of her visa “is not the same thing as kicking the person out of the country.”
The official described the visa revocation as a “reciprocal action” to what they described as Brazil’s delay in granting diplomatic approval, known as agrément, to the US pick for ambassador to that country, Daniel Perez. They also noted the revocation“ occurs in the context of several other diplomatic disputes that have developed over the last year or so,” including Brazil’s refusal to grant visas to US officials.
The official said Viotti’s visa would be immediately restored if agrément is given to Perez.
Read more Chipotle pulls jalapeños from some restaurants as health officials investigate salmonella outbreak
“What we are focused on right now, this particular event is focused on the fact that we have well-qualified ambassadorial nominee, and we think the government of Brazil owes us a prompt and positive answer to our request for agrément.”
The move comes ahead of Brazil’s October elections, which will see current president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva face Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The younger Bolsonaro met with members of the Trump administration, including President Donald Trump, earlier this year.
CNN has reached out to the Brazilian Embassy for comment.
This story is breaking and will be updated.