The Trump administration has declined to support Flavio Bolsonaro's assertion that he is Brazil's rightful leader, despite helping him enter the US. A US official and another person familiar with the matter revealed this information on condition of anonymity. President Donald Trump has expressed concerns about the integrity of Brazil's recent election, but has not endorsed Bolsonaro's bid. Trump has also stated that he has a good relationship with incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who won re-election by 3.5 percentage points.
Flavio Bolsonaro's departure from Brazil was a last-minute decision, made after a Supreme Court justice ordered him to surrender his passport. Federal police are investigating him for two alleged money-laundering schemes. US officials and others familiar with the matter reported that the police request was made just minutes after Lula's election victory. Some conservatives have suggested that the timing of the request was politically motivated. Bolsonaro's flight has been criticized by many in Brazil, who expected him to lead the opposition.
Bolsonaro's family, including his wife and two daughters, crossed into northern Argentina before boarding a chartered aircraft to Miami via Ecuador. It is unclear how he traveled from his home in Brasilia to the border crossing or exited Brazil without detection. During his journey, Bolsonaro contacted multiple US officials, and Jason Miller, a Trump adviser close to the Bolsonaro family, helped arrange the flight. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recommended that Trump admit Bolsonaro, which the president approved.
The Trump administration granted Bolsonaro and his family humanitarian parole at the border, a temporary status for individuals with urgent humanitarian concerns or significant public interest. In an open letter, Bolsonaro declared himself "the elected president" before updating it to claim he was Brazil's rightful "leader". His father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, is imprisoned in Brazil for attempting a self-coup after losing his re-election bid in 2022.
The Bolsonaro family's departure is the latest chapter in a tumultuous period in Brazilian politics and US-Brazil relations. Jair Bolsonaro was president from 2019 to 2023, then lost re-election to Lula and was jailed last year. Lula himself spent 17 months in jail on corruption charges that were later annulled. The US had previously slapped sanctions on the judge overseeing Jair Bolsonaro's trial, which were later lifted.
During the campaign, Brazil objected to attempts by some US officials to boost the Bolsonaro campaign, and the government has refused to seat the incoming US ambassador to Brazil. Reuters reported that two conservative state department officials pushed for Brazil sanctions and terrorist designations of two Brazilian organised crime groups, measures aimed at tilting the election in Bolsonaro's favour.
Despite Trump's concerns about the election, he has refrained from criticising Lula, stating that he likes Lula and gets along with him well. The US official and person familiar with the matter noted that Trump's posture suggests he may be reluctant to cause a fresh crisis in relations with Brazil. The White House and Brazilian government have not commented on the matter.
Key points
- The Trump administration will not support Flavio Bolsonaro's claim to be Brazil's rightful leader.
- Flavio Bolsonaro's departure from Brazil was a last-minute decision made after a Supreme Court justice ordered him to surrender his passport.
- The US granted Bolsonaro and his family humanitarian parole at the border due to urgent humanitarian concerns or significant public interest.
