Flavio Bolsonaro, the defeated Brazilian presidential candidate facing investigations in his home country, arrived in South Florida on Wednesday morning with his family as the Trump administration prepared to issue them visas, according to a U.S. State Department official.
Bolsonaro landed at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport shortly after 9 a.m. Eastern time, following his defeat by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Sunday’s presidential runoff election.
Images showed Bolsonaro disembarking from a private jet alongside family members. The group used umbrellas to shield themselves from photographers as they left the airport.
The arrival followed questions from Brazilian authorities about Bolsonaro’s whereabouts. On Tuesday, officials said they did not know where he was and were investigating whether he had left the country for the United States, according to people familiar with the investigation.
Two U.S. officials familiar with the matter said the Trump administration had been tracking Bolsonaro’s plans and anticipated that he might travel to the United States.
Brazilian Investigations Shadow His Departure
Bolsonaro is under investigation in Brazil in connection with a sports betting case and a separate inquiry into the production of a film about his father, Jair Bolsonaro, who served as Brazil’s president from 2019 to 2023.
The investigations add uncertainty to the political future of the younger Bolsonaro, who sought the presidency but lost Sunday’s runoff to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The available information does not establish that Bolsonaro fled Brazil to avoid prosecution, and the existence of an investigation does not establish criminal wrongdoing. Brazilian authorities had been examining his whereabouts before his arrival in Florida.
The circumstances surrounding his departure, including when he left Brazil and the status of any legal restrictions on his travel, remain important questions.
Trump Administration Preparing Visas
The Trump administration is issuing visas to Bolsonaro and his family, a State Department official told ABC News.
The move comes as President Donald Trump has expressed support for the Bolsonaro political family and questioned the legitimacy of Brazil’s election.
On Monday, Trump said the election “looked like another rigged election, frankly,” without presenting evidence to support the claim.
His remarks could further strain relations with Brazil, one of the largest countries in Latin America, where Lula’s government has faced political opposition from supporters of the former president.
The visa decision also places the administration’s handling of Bolsonaro’s arrival in the spotlight as Brazilian authorities continue investigating the cases involving him.
A Political Family With Close Ties to Trump
Jair Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil from 2019 to 2023, was a close ideological ally of Trump during their presidencies. Both leaders cultivated conservative political movements and criticized institutions and political opponents they accused of undermining their agendas.
Flavio Bolsonaro’s defeat marks a setback for the family’s effort to retain the presidency. His arrival in the United States, amid the ongoing investigations, introduces another dimension to the political dispute surrounding the Bolsonaro family.
For now, key details remain unclear, including the full circumstances of his departure and whether Brazilian authorities will seek further action in connection with the investigations.
The Trump administration’s decision to issue visas could also draw scrutiny as Washington navigates its relationship with Lula’s government and the broader political fallout from Brazil’s election.
