Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva on Friday hit a light chord and was at his wittiest when he jokingly expressed the desire to live till the age of 120 years, suggesting he had a “pact with God” to make that happen.
During an otherwise serious interview with IndiaToday TV, discussing geopolitics and Trump tariffs, Lula chose to deviate from the motion and said he did “not want to age”.
“I wake up to work out one hour of gymnastics and one hour of muscle building because I don’t want to age. I want to be strong. I have a pact with God that I’ll live to 120 years, and I heard the news in the newspaper that a man who was going to live up to a hundred and twenty years of age had already been born. Maybe I’m that man who knows,” the 80-year-old leader declared with trademark humour.
Notably, some scientific studies have floated models indicating the human body could potentially stretch to 120 years, though no verified case has reached that mark.
The president of South America’s largest country also shared an eye-catching fitness confession while in New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit 2026.
He joked that he had walked 6,006 kilometres in the capital, adding that daily workouts are non-negotiable.
For now, Lula’s longevity plan rests on discipline, dumbbells and determination.
His remarks drew laughter and applause from viewers across India and beyond.
LULA DA SILVA INVOKES GANDHI
Luiz Incio Lula da Silva said he does not believe in war and draws inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy as he navigates global uncertainty and prepares for potential talks with US President Donald Trump.
Lula struck an optimistic yet firm tone, emphasising dialogue over confrontation in matters of diplomacy and trade.
Calling Gandhi the “role model of my life,” he said his guiding principle is simple: he does not want war.
Lula also expressed his intention to maintain strong ties with Washington regardless of who occupies the White House.
He noted that he had worked well with former US presidents, including George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and hopes to build a constructive relationship with Trump as well.
Highlighting over 200 years of diplomatic ties, Lula said both nations should respect each other’s freedom and sovereignty.
