Far-right Brazilian senator Flávio Bolsonaro has declared himself the true president of Brazil following his defeat in the presidential election, after fleeing the country for the United States. Traveling on a private jet with his family, he landed in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday morning and published a letter making the claim, despite his own party, international observers, and all Brazilian institutions recognizing the victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The Flight to the United States
Following his runoff defeat to Lula on Sunday, Bolsonaro vanished for more than 24 hours before migration authorities in Argentina confirmed he crossed the land border on Tuesday night. He boarded a Gulfstream IV registered as LV-JQW at Puerto Iguazú airport, departing with his wife and two teenage daughters at about 11.30pm toward Guayaquil, Ecuador, reportedly to bypass Brazilian airspace. After a brief stop in Ecuador, the aircraft continued to Miami-Opa Locka airport, touching down at 9.24am on Wednesday.
According to Brazilian newspapers, Bolsonaro and his family received humanitarian visas to enter the US. Donald Trump voiced support for their relocation on Tuesday night, calling them fine people and describing the election as very strange. Upon arrival in South Florida, Bolsonaro wore a black bulletproof vest, looked somber, and ignored journalists before getting into a dark gray Ford Expedition MAX under police escort. No supporters were present at the aviation hub, and Customs and Border Protection agents dispersed reporters.
Reactions and Ongoing Legal Investigations
In his letter published hours after landing, Bolsonaro thanked Argentinian President Javier Milei for his courage and legality, and expressed gratitude to Trump and the American people. He repeated unverified claims of electoral fraud, which have been dismissed by Brazil’s supreme court. President Lula condemned the departure as shameful, stating that the Bolsonaro family prioritizes licking the boots of the US over their own homeland during an event celebrating his 81st birthday in Brasília.
Brazilian authorities faced criticism for failing to block his exit, with questions remaining about his whereabouts between Monday evening and Tuesday night before he entered Argentina. The aircraft used for his escape belongs to Sergio Daniel Mastropietro, a businessman previously investigated in an administration bribery scandal involving disability medication, as reported by the Argentinian newspaper Página/12. Bolsonaro is currently implicated in at least two criminal cases, including a money-laundering investigation concerning about £680m connected to betting companies.
Brazilian police had previously requested the supreme court to confiscate Bolsonaro’s passport to prevent him from fleeing, citing comments by his brother Eduardo Bolsonaro on a US podcast advising him to escape if he lost. Reports from O Globo indicate the escape was planned weeks in advance as a contingency, with Eduardo orchestrating discussions with US officials. Fleeing the country has become a common tactic for prominent figures aligned with the Bolsonaro family who face criminal charges or convictions in Brazil.
