US grants visa to defeated Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro

On Wednesday, Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro and his family landed in Miami, as the United States government granted them entry visas following his refusal to comply with a Brazilian Supreme Court order to surrender his passports. The order stemmed from a money-laundering investigation that Flavio denies any involvement in. Images from Reuters TV showed the Bolsonaro family, including his wife and two daughters, exiting a Gulfstream G400 and proceeding to Miami’s Opa-Locka Executive Airport. Their arrival in the United States generated significant attention across the region.

The Bolsonaro family's journey to Miami began in northern Argentina on Tuesday evening, according to Argentina’s migration department. They then took a private jet to the Ecuadorean city of Guayaquil before finally arriving in Miami. However, neither Argentina’s presidency, Ecuadorean ministries, nor Baires Fly, the operator of the private jet, responded to inquiries for comment.

Bolsonaro's departure from Brazil has the potential to further strain relations between the two most populous nations in the Americas. Lula, the incumbent Brazilian president, has accused Washington of collaborating with the Bolsonaro family to facilitate their return to power. Prior to Sunday’s election, Reuters had reported on a campaign by the US State Department aimed at reinstating the Bolsonaros in office.

Trump affirmed his support for Flavio Bolsonaro arriving in the United States after learning that his State Department would issue them entry visas.

Trump had previously stated that he would back Flavio Bolsonaro if he sought refuge in the United States, as the former president alleged that his father, Jair Bolsonaro, was the victim of judicial persecution in Brazil. Jair Bolsonaro had also traveled to the United States after refusing to concede defeat in the 2022 presidential election, which he lost to incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Jair Bolsonaro eventually returned to Brazil but was subsequently sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup following the storming of government buildings in Brasilia by his supporters.

Flavio Bolsonaro had been widely anticipated to emerge victorious in Sunday’s election. However, he faced a surprising loss. Upon learning of the court order to submit his passports, Flavio Bolsonaro indicated on Monday that he had no intention of fleeing the country. He stated, "I have never considered leaving the country." Flavio added that he would hand over his passports and defend himself against what he perceived as an attempt to intimidate him.