Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoWatchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump Trump's push for win with Sudan amps up pressure on Congress Putin nominated for Nobel Peace Prize MORE on Monday discussed ways he plans to work with Brazilian president-elect Jair Bolsonaro, the controversial right-wing populist who won around 55 percent of the vote after a volatile and divisive presidential campaign.

Pompeo in a phone call congratulated Bolsonaro on the win and discussed collaboration on issues including Venezuela, transnational crime and economic ties between "the two largest economies in the Western Hemisphere," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

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The call comes days after a group of House Democrats penned a letter to Pompeo asking him to condemn Bolsonaro, who was then the front-runner for the presidency.

The lawmakers, led by Rep. Ro Khanna Rohit (Ro) KhannaOvernight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds On The Money: Half of states deplete funds for Trump's 0 unemployment expansion | EU appealing ruling in Apple tax case | House Democrats include more aid for airlines in coronavirus package The movement to reform animal agriculture has reached a tipping point MORE (D-Calif.), raised concerns about the "rising threats to democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Brazil" connected to Bolsonaro.

The rise of Bolsonaro, a longtime congressman and former army official in Brazil, has raised alarms among critics and anti-fascists who claim he exhibits authoritarian tendencies. Bolsonaro infamously once said Brazil's former military dictatorship did not go "far enough" in their mass killings, and he has advocated for the use of torture.

“It is incumbent upon you and other spokespeople for our government to condemn all political violence and take a strong stand in opposition to such backsliding; leaving clear that U.S. assistance and cooperation with Brazil is contingent on the upholding of basic human rights and democratic values by its leaders," the House Democrats wrote to Pompeo.

Bolsonaro, nicknamed "Trump of the Tropics" due to his nationalist views, has also faced multiple charges and fines over his hate speech toward LGBTQ, black and indigenous Brazilians. He has called for parents to beat their gay children and proudly said that he is homophobic.

Trump on Sunday night also congratulated Bolsonaro with a phone call, vowing to work side-by-side with the president-elect.