Flávio Bolsonaro Arrives in Miami After Brazilian Runoff Loss
The senator fled to the United States following his father's political rival's victory, with President Trump approving his refuge.
By Giulia Donovan ·
Flávio Bolsonaro, the defeated Brazilian presidential candidate and senator, landed in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday after leaving his country following the recent election results. He arrived accompanied by his wife and two daughters, having traveled from Argentina where he appeared on Tuesday night.
The senator took a Gulfstream IV jet from Argentina at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The flight included a brief stop in Ecuador before continuing to the United States. Reports indicate that Bolsonaro is expected to hold a press conference in Miami during the current week.
President Donald Trump approved Bolsonaro's move to the United States on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters, Trump stated, “Well, I would approve.” He described the election as “very strange” and “terrible,” adding that he felt the process seemed “rigged.” Trump clarified that he did not take sides, noting that he knows both Lula and Bolsonaro, though he knows the latter’s father very well.
Lula da Silva, the incumbent left-wing president, won the runoff election against Bolsonaro by a margin of roughly three percentage points. This victory occurred despite Bolsonaro leading in the first round weeks earlier. Lula secured over 64 million votes, while Bolsonaro received fewer than 60 million.
The election process saw a nationwide two-hour extension of voting granted by Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Cristiano Zanin. Zanin, who previously served as Lula’s attorney, approved the extension after both candidates petitioned for it due to transportation concerns. Questions arose regarding how evenly the extension was applied across the nation.
A senior official from the U.S. Department of State told media outlets that visas would be granted to Bolsonaro and his family. This follows the arrival of the senator, who is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Jair Bolsonaro was ousted and sentenced to more than 27 years in prison on charges of attempting a coup d’état after losing the 2022 presidential election to Lula.
Prosecutors alleged that Jair Bolsonaro met with senior military officials to discuss measures to prevent Lula from taking office. They also claimed he attempted to prepare a decree to interfere with the transfer of power. Flávio Bolsonaro’s arrival marks the latest development in the political fallout from Brazil’s recent runoff vote.
