Flavio Bolsonaro Arrives in Miami After Election Loss

Flavio Bolsonaro, the defeated presidential candidate from Brazil, arrived in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday with his family, following his unexpected electoral defeat.

This trip comes shortly after President Trump indicated support for Flavio seeking asylum in the United States. The move follows a controversial order from Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Vice-President Alexandre de Moraes, which required Flavio to surrender his passport.

“Well, I would approve,” Trump mentioned to reporters on Tuesday, expressing his thoughts on Flavio’s situation. “The election was very strange, and I thought it was terrible.” He added, “I didn’t take sides. I know [Brazilian President Luiz Inácio] Lula [da Silva], I know Flavio a little bit. But I wasn’t involved.”

Reports suggest that Flavio and his family will likely receive visas from the State Department, as they left Brazil together with his wife and two daughters.

Previous ties between Flavio and Trump exist, as Trump had a friendly relationship with Flavio’s father, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who lost to Lula in 2022. Flavio’s brother, Eduardo, was already residing in the U.S. before Flavio’s arrival.

In a recent election, Flavio, a senator, had initially performed well, winning the first round of voting earlier this month. However, Lula, at 81 years old, made a significant comeback during the runoffs on Sunday.

The election was met with its own share of challenges, as both candidates sought a nationwide extension of voting time due to transportation issues that could lead to disruptions. Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Cristiano Zanin, who had previously represented Lula, permitted a two-hour voting extension, but the effectiveness of this decision has faced scrutiny.

Lula’s victory was notable, especially since it went against the global trend of incumbents losing power. He received over 64 million votes, compared to Flavio’s fewer than 60 million—resulting in about a 4 percentage point victory margin.

Despite his quiet status, Flavio has not faced any charges; he alleges that the investigation against him is politically motivated. This investigation is said to involve concerns regarding corruption, money laundering, and links to various political scandals in Brazil.

The crisis escalated when Moraes, a controversial figure, ordered the confiscation of Flavio’s passports after he reportedly suggested in a podcast that he would escape the country if he lost.

Judge Moraes has been known for his rigorous enforcement against right-wing figures, stirring worries about censorship while simultaneously grappling with his own corruption-related inquiries.

It’s worth noting that Lula, who was jailed from 2018 to 2019 on corruption charges, had his convictions annulled by Brazil’s Supreme Court, allowing him to run for office again. Meanwhile, Jair Bolsonaro is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence stemming from charges related to a coup attempt following his electoral loss in 2022.

Trump had been close with Jair, who was often seen as having a more pro-American stance in his foreign policy compared to Lula.