Flávio Bolsonaro Arrives in Miami After Losing Brazil's Presidential Runoff

Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has arrived in Miami, days after losing Brazil's presidential runoff. His landing in Florida ends several days of confusion over where he was, including a report that he had gone to Argentina and a premature claim on Tuesday that he had already entered the United States.

The US State Department confirmed it would issue visas to Bolsonaro and the family members who travelled with him. Brazil had cancelled his passport after he failed to hand it over to authorities, who are pursuing a criminal investigation. He denies any wrongdoing.

In a statement released after he arrived, Bolsonaro described himself as "the true elected president of Brazil" and thanked the US government for admitting his family. He also thanked the presidents of Argentina and the United States, along with the American public. "It was never my intention to leave my homeland, but I know exactly where this is heading," he said. He called himself the victim of a coup and political persecution and said the trip was meant to protect his family.

He also claimed that "the criminals who stole Brazil's election are part of a criminal organization that has established a tyranny." President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was reelected in Sunday's vote, criticised the departure, saying "those who have nothing to hide have nothing to fear."

The speculation began with a report on an Argentine news site claiming Bolsonaro had crossed the land border into Argentina and boarded a private plane bound for the US. Brazilian police checked border crossings early on Tuesday and found no sign he had left, and Argentine officials said they had no record of a crossing. When he missed a 24-hour deadline to surrender his passports, authorities cancelled them and told police to check border posts. His lawyers said they did not know where he was.

Several sources then told the BBC and other broadcasters he was heading to the US, and three people close to the family told BBC Brasil and BBC Mundo that he had already arrived. Hours later, Argentine migration authorities said Bolsonaro, his wife and their two daughters had only just crossed into Argentina by land on Tuesday night. US President Donald Trump, asked about the matter, said: "I heard he was in Argentina."

Flight tracking data verified by the BBC indicated the family left Puerto Iguazú in Argentina at 12:18 local time on Wednesday for Guayaquil, Ecuador. After a brief stop, the same private jet flew to Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, where they were photographed disembarking shortly before 09:30 local time. Photographers swarmed him as aides tried to shield him with umbrellas.

He is not the first in his family to head to the US. His father, Jair Bolsonaro, left for Florida in December 2022 before Lula's inauguration, and was still there when supporters stormed Brazil's government buildings and Supreme Court on 8 January. He later cited his absence in his defence at his coup trial, which ended in a conviction and a 27-year sentence. Brother Eduardo Bolsonaro has been living in Texas on leave from Congress, and lobbied US officials over his father's trial, which led to US tariffs on Brazil and sanctions on key officials. Brazil's highest court convicted him in absentia earlier this year.

It is unclear where Flávio Bolsonaro will ultimately settle or how long he will stay. He faces two pending investigations at Brazil's Supreme Federal Court: one into possible irregularities in the transfer of nearly $70m from private bank Banco Master to the film Dark Horse, a biopic about his father, and another into alleged money laundering. He denies both. His parliamentary immunity ends on 31 January, when his eight-year Senate term expires.