I am the true elected president of Brazil,
declared former presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday, according to a report by CNN Portugal. The declaration came after Bolsonaro arrived in Miami, having left Brazil following the conclusion of the presidential election and an investigation into alleged criminal activity.
From Argentina to Miami: Bolsonaro’s Departure and Initial Claim
Flávio Bolsonaro, after being defeated by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brazil’s presidential election, traveled from Brazil to Argentina and then on to Miami, as reported by RTP and the Nexo Jornal. Initially, Bolsonaro claimed he was the true elected president of Brazil
in a statement released through Paulo Figueiredo, a supporter, according to Forbes Brasil. This initial claim was later altered to leader of Brazil
in a subsequent post, as noted by Gazeta do Povo and Público. The shift came shortly after arriving in the United States, according to O Globo.
Q: Flávio Bolsonaro has declared himself the "rightful president" of Brazil. Do you agree?Trump: I'm not going to make a comment about that.I won't get involved. It was a very strange election, that's for sure. pic.twitter.com/CfzV1yuGsb
Gratitude to Milei and Trump
According to Agência Brasil, he thanked them for their support, describing the United States as a land of freedom and Trump as a great defender of freedom of expression.
SBT News also reported Bolsonaro saying the US provided “security” for him. Before anything, I wanted to thank President Milei, for his courage, sense of justice, and legality, and President Trump and the wonderful American people for welcoming me, Bolsonaro stated, as reported by SBT News.
Claims of Fraud and Political Persecution
Bolsonaro alleges the election was fraudulent and maintains he is the victim of political persecution, as reported by multiple outlets including Público and Agência Brasil. He claims the extension of voting hours at the close of polls was illegitimate and cites a mathematical impossibility in Lula’s vote gain, according to Forbes Brasil. He asserts he left Brazil not to evade justice, but to be the leader my people deserve,
after his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, was imprisoned and censored, according to RTP.
Trump on Brazil:Bolsonaro and his family were treated very unfairly. pic.twitter.com/UaDEVekIh8
Flávio Bolsonaro garnered 59,826,041 votes, while Lula received 64,256,232 votes, according to Forbes Brasil. The election took place on October 25, 2026, and Lula was re-elected with 51.79% of the valid votes.
U.S. Response and Democratic Criticism
Donald Trump, when asked about Bolsonaro’s arrival in the U.S., stated he would not “get involved,” as reported by O Globo. However, Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. have criticized the decision to allow Bolsonaro entry, as detailed by Agência Brasil. Congressman Morgan McGarvey (Kentucky) stated on X, The Trump administration says they don’t want criminals entering our country. Unless they are as corrupt as him,
while Andy Kim (New Jersey) called it another example of Trump’s corruption favoring those who bow to him,
according to O Globo.
Q: Have you spoken to Bolsonaro?Trump: No, I have not. pic.twitter.com/RyxcLxVjeS
New Jersey Andy Kim was one of those who compared the situation of Flávio Bolsonaro to Trump’s toughening policy on refugees and immigrants. According to Kim, the senator’s trip to the country is yet another example of Trump’s corruption favoring those who kowtow to him, as reported by CNN Portugal.
Legal Scrutiny and Ongoing Investigations
Bolsonaro’s departure follows an order from the Supreme Federal Court (STF) requiring him to surrender his passports amid investigations into alleged money laundering and other crimes, according to Agência Brasil. Brasil 247 reports Bolsonaro faces investigations related to the financing of the film Dark Horse (R$134 million) and alleged involvement with betting schemes involving approximately $5 billion. His brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, has also been residing in Florida since March 2025, according to Gazeta do Povo.
Flávio Bolsonaro was summoned by the Federal Police to surrender his passport as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering, ordered by Alexandre Moraes, a judge at the Supreme Federal Court, according to Público.
This fight did not end on October 25th. It only ends when Brazil returns to being a free country. And that day will come,
Bolsonaro wrote in the altered statement, as reported by SBT News.
CARTA À NAÇÃO BRASILEIRA 🇧🇷28.10.26 pic.twitter.com/QqOGZuF8G0
Following Sunday’s electoral defeat, Flávio Bolsonaro was ordered by the Federal Police, at the behest of Alexandre Moraes, a judge at the Supreme Federal Court, to surrender his passport as part of an investigation into suspicions of money laundering that involve the politician and his friend Willer Tomaz, according to Público.
According to political scientist Tathiana Chicarino, coordinator of the undergraduate course in Sociology and Politics at FespSP (Fundação Escola de Sociologia e Política de São Paulo), by attempting to annul the election results, Flávio sought to keep the Bolsonarist base within the same logic of antidemocratic radicalization that has been practiced in the playbook of the global far right, as reported by Nexo Jornal.
Defeated Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro and his family have landed in Miami after fleeing his country. This comes a day after they were granted United States visas by the Trump administration. pic.twitter.com/oB91ejWab5
More on Flávio Bolsonaro
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