Brazil's economy minister Paulo Guedes said French first lady Brigitte Macron was "truly ugly", only days after the country's president appeared to endorse an attack on her appearance.

Guedes on Thursday said he agreed with President Jair Bolsonaro's comments about Brigitte's looks. "The president said it — it's true," he said during an economic forum. "The woman is truly ugly." Later, an aide said that Guedes "asks for forgiveness for the joke he made today during a public event... when he mentioned the French first lady."