President Dilma Rousseff’s relationship with the White House hit the skids two years ago, when she learned that the National Security Agency had tapped her cellphone. This coming week, with the Brazilian economy in trouble, her poll numbers at an all-time low and political scandals looming large, Rousseff will visit Washington to restore relations with President Obama and attract U.S. investment. On the eve of the trip, she spoke with The Washington Post’s Lally Weymouth at her home in Brasilia. Edited excerpts follow:

People say that you are a micromanager. But they also say that since the last election, you have changed and decided to empower people like your finance minister and your vice president, Michel Temer — to enable Temer to negotiate with Congress.

Have you ever heard someone say that a male president puts his finger on everything? I’ve never heard that.

So you think that is a sexist comment?

I believe there is a bit of a sexual bias or a gender bias. I am described as a hard and strong woman who puts her nose in everything she’s not supposed to, and I am [said to be] surrounded by very cute men.

Read the full interview at the source.