Flavio Bolsonaro Arrives in Miami as Trump Approves Refuge
The defeated Brazilian presidential candidate and his family have landed in Florida, with former President Trump expressing support for his presence in the U.S.
Defeated Brazilian Presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro arrived in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday with his family, following his loss in the recent election and an order from Brazil's Supreme Federal Court to surrender his passport. Former President Donald Trump publicly stated his approval for Bolsonaro to take refuge in the United States.
"Well, I would approve," Trump told reporters Tuesday. "The election was very strange, and I thought it was terrible." Trump added that while he knows both Bolsonaro and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, he was not involved in the election.
Flavio Bolsonaro, a senator in Brazil, had departed the country with his wife and two daughters. The U.S. State Department was expected to issue visas for the family. Bolsonaro's brother, Eduardo, was already residing in the U.S. prior to this arrival.
The election saw Lula stage a comeback against Flavio, who had won the first round of voting. Lula ultimately secured over 64 million votes, compared to Flavio's fewer than 60 million, a margin of approximately 4 percentage points.
Flavio Bolsonaro has not been charged with any crimes but claims the investigation against him is politically motivated. The probe reportedly concerns allegations of corruption, money laundering, and involvement in other scandals that have affected Brazilian politics. Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered the seizure of Flavio's passport, reportedly in response to Flavio suggesting on a podcast that he might flee the country if he lost the election.
Judge de Moraes has been a prominent figure in crackdowns on right-wing figures in Brazil, drawing concerns about censorship. He is also reportedly facing questions related to corruption. Lula, who previously served jail time from 2018 to 2019 on corruption charges that were later annulled by Brazil's Supreme Court, secured a significant victory, defying international trends and a regional shift towards right-wing politics.
Flavio's father, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who lost to Lula in 2022, is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence related to a coup attempt after his defeat. Trump had maintained a close relationship with Jair Bolsonaro, viewing his foreign policy as more pro-American than Lula's.