The key facts

  • Flavio Bolsonaro arrived in Miami after losing the election and without surrendering his passports as Brazil's Supreme Court had required
  • The US State Department announced it would issue visas to Bolsonaro and his family
  • Lula da Silva called his rival's departure 'shameful'; Trump said he 'approves' of the arrival

Arrival in Miami and a court order left unfulfilled

Brazilian senator Flavio Bolsonaro arrived in Miami on Wednesday morning, as reported by The National citing publications. He flew to the United States after losing Sunday's presidential election to the incumbent head of state, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and after failing to comply with a Brazilian Supreme Court order to hand over his passports to the federal police. The passports were seized as part of a money laundering investigation; the senator has also faced other criminal charges and denies any wrongdoing. He has still not conceded defeat, although his party already has.

US visas and Washington's reaction

As early as Tuesday, a senior State Department official said the United States would issue visas to Bolsonaro and members of his family. In Miami he was met by his brother Eduardo, who has lived in the US since last year and has lobbied President Donald Trump on behalf of their father — former president Jair Bolsonaro, convicted of plotting a coup and serving a 27-year sentence — Brazilian outlet O Globo reported, citing The National.

Worsening relations between Washington and Brasilia

The senator's arrival could deepen the rift between Washington and Brasilia. Lula has accused the US of conspiring with Bolsonaro to return them to power; Reuters reported before the election on a State Department campaign aimed at bringing them back into government. On Wednesday Trump told reporters: 'I would approve [Bolsonaro's arrival]. I think they're good people. The election was very strange, and I thought it was terrible.' He added that he had 'not taken anyone's side,' but believes Bolsonaro's father 'has been treated very badly.' Earlier, Trump claimed that Jair Bolsonaro had fallen victim to political persecution in Brazil. Lula himself criticized his rival's decision to leave, calling it 'shameful': 'Anyone who secretly leaves their country has something to hide.'

A repeat of the 2022 scenario

The situation echoes the events of 2022: back then, the elder Bolsonaro also traveled to the United States, refusing to acknowledge Lula's victory — at the time, Joe Biden's administration was in the White House. According to The National, Lula da Silva won a historic fourth presidential term.