Trump Offers Support as Flávio Bolsonaro Leaves Brazil Following Election Defeat

Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has left Brazil for the United States following his defeat in the 2026 presidential election, as President Donald Trump’s administration confirmed it would grant visas to him and his family.

The move came just two days after Bolsonaro lost Sunday’s presidential runoff to incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

A senior US State Department official confirmed on Tuesday, October 27, that Bolsonaro and his relatives would be allowed to enter the United States.

According to CNN, a Trump adviser said the American president had approved Bolsonaro’s entry despite being aware of a Brazilian Supreme Court order requiring the senator to surrender his passports.

Trump publicly welcomed the possibility of Bolsonaro entering the country and criticized aspects of Brazil’s electoral process. He did not provide evidence establishing that the election results were fraudulent.

The Brazilian Supreme Court had ordered Bolsonaro to hand over his passports as part of an investigation involving allegations of money laundering.

Brazilian authorities also prohibited him from leaving the country, raising questions about how he traveled abroad while subject to judicial restrictions.

Reports from Reuters and Brazilian media indicated that Bolsonaro traveled toward the United States, with some sources saying he had reached Florida. His precise whereabouts had not been independently established in the initial reports. UOL Notícias+1

The situation has increased political tensions between Brazil and Washington.

Bolsonaro has maintained close political ties with Trump and previously visited the White House in May 2026, during his presidential campaign.

His father, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, has also maintained a longstanding relationship with the American president.

Despite the US government’s decision to grant visas, there has been no official confirmation that Flávio Bolsonaro has received political asylum.

The authorization allows him and his family to enter the United States but does not, by itself, resolve the legal proceedings involving the senator in Brazil.

The case could become another point of disagreement between the Brazilian government and the Trump administration, particularly if Brazilian authorities seek further legal measures related to Bolsonaro’s departure.