Trump slams 'rigged' Brazil election after ally Flávio Bolsonaro loses

US President Donald Trump expressed his belief on Monday that Brazil's elections had been rigged and deeply corrupt following a loss to his right-wing ally, Flávio Bolsonaro. Flávio, the 45-year-old son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, had called for the annulment of the result, which denied Trump the South American political influence he desired.

Trump, reflecting on the election, told reporters during his departure for a campaign rally that it "looked terrible" and "like another rigged election." He also stated that the election process appeared "very bad to me" and "so corrupt."

Trump, who has previously disputed his own 2020 presidential election loss, has cast doubt on the legitimacy of the US midterms on November 3, where his Republican Party risks losing control of Congress. An ally of the Bolsonaro family, Trump had hoped for Flávio's victory, who had pledged to align himself with conservative Latin American leaders and their pro-US stances.

While Trump did not endorse any candidate, he expressed dissatisfaction with the Brazilian election's tabulation process, which he found "terrible" due to an extended voting period. Flávio Bolsonaro had disputed the outcome following the extension of polling hours, which was requested by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva due to transportation issues in certain cities.

Despite their close relationship, Trump has occasionally shown favor towards Lula, acknowledging their "excellent chemistry." However, Trump has also boasted about altering the political landscape in Latin America, including the ousting of Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro in January.