Flávio Bolsonaro lands in U.S. after losing Brazilian presidency
A senior State Department official confirmed the senator and his family were granted visas, allowing entry days after his defeat by President Lula.
By Jason Wood ·
Flávio Bolsonaro arrived in the United States following his defeat in Sunday's Brazilian presidential election, and the State Department confirmed the move. A senior official told CBS News on Tuesday that Bolsonaro and his family will receive U.S. visas, granting them permission to enter the country. The senator is a known ally of President Trump, who visited the White House in May.
Brazilian media reports indicate Bolsonaro departed for the U.S. immediately after losing to incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. His campaign manager, Rogério Marinho, declined to comment, and a spokesperson for Bolsonaro did not respond to requests for clarification. Bolsonaro has not conceded defeat and has raised unsubstantiated allegations of election fraud.
The departure coincided with a noon Tuesday deadline for Bolsonaro to surrender his regular and diplomatic passports. He was served with the order on Monday, one day after his loss. It was not immediately clear if he had complied with the surrender requirement before leaving. A sealed Supreme Court order, issued on Sunday and viewed by The Associated Press, mandated the surrender of the documents.
Bolsonaro received the order outside the home of his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro. Jair Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for attempting a coup after his own 2022 election loss. After that defeat, Jair Bolsonaro fled to Florida and returned to Brazil three months later.
The political stakes are high due to family connections within the U.S. government. Flávio Bolsonaro's brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, lives in Texas and publicly encouraged Flávio to leave Brazil if he lost. Eduardo was convicted in absentia in June for illegally lobbying the Trump administration and sentenced to four years in prison. A warrant for his arrest was recently issued.
President Trump suggested on Monday that Brazil's election was rigged, though he did not provide evidence for the claim. He did not offer a full endorsement of Flávio Bolsonaro, a move he has taken with other right-of-center Latin American candidates. Lula received more than 64 million votes, while Flávio Bolsonaro secured fewer than 60 million. The margin of victory was nearly 4 percent.
Lula turned 81 on Tuesday as he secured his victory. The result ends Flávio Bolsonaro's bid to succeed his father in the presidency. The family's presence in the U.S. now adds a new layer to the ongoing legal and political disputes between the two camps in Brazil.
Source: CBS News
