Trump approved allowing Flávio Bolsonaro to enter US after Brazil election loss, source says
Trump Approved Flávio Bolsonaro’s US Entry After Election Loss
Activelifezero.com – Trump approved allowing Flávio Bolsonaro to enter the United States after the Brazilian senator lost Brazil’s presidential election and faced a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports, according to a Trump adviser. Bolsonaro arrived in the US as legal pressure mounted in Brazil.
American officials had indicated that Bolsonaro and members of his family would receive visas. His departure came shortly before a deadline set by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes for him to turn over his travel documents.
Passport order followed election defeat
Bolsonaro lost Sunday’s presidential runoff to leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by 4.4 million votes. Although he entered the race as a strong favorite, Lula’s second-round victory stopped what had appeared to be a wider right-wing advance in the region.
Justice Moraes issued the passport order on Monday and gave Bolsonaro 24 hours to comply. Bolsonaro said police officers delivered the order in person and told him he could not leave Brazil.
In a video posted on Instagram, Bolsonaro denied plans to flee. He nevertheless departed for the United States, and Brazil’s Federal Police canceled his passports after he did not surrender them. A person familiar with the matter said he had reached the US by Tuesday afternoon, though his arrival city was not immediately known.
Lula called Bolsonaro’s departure “shameful,” saying his defeated rival could have remained in Brazil and addressed the allegations through the courts.
No arrest warrant had been issued when Bolsonaro left Brazil. However, legal analysts said that failing to comply with the Supreme Court’s passport order could itself provide grounds for a warrant.
Investigations and questions over his departure
Bolsonaro is being investigated by Brazil’s highest court over allegations of corruption, money laundering and currency evasion. He denies wrongdoing. The inquiries include potentially illegal online betting platforms and financing for “Dark Horse,” a biopic about his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Federal police believe the film project may have involved money linked to Banco Master, which collapsed amid a $7 billion Ponzi-like scheme in 2025. Bolsonaro initially said his campaign would seek to annul the election result, but his Liberal Party changed course within days.
Questions also emerged about whether he traveled through Argentina. Argentina’s government said it had no record of Flávio Bolsonaro entering the country. Bolsonaro, his party and Brazil’s Federal Police were contacted for comment about his location.
Trump’s backing of the Bolsonaro family
Trump approved allowing Flávio Bolsonaro into the US amid his broader support for the Bolsonaro family. Trump had previously imposed tariffs on Brazil in response to the criminal case involving Jair Bolsonaro and claimed without evidence that Lula’s election victory had been “rigged.”
Flávio Bolsonaro’s move puts him among Brazilian conservatives living abroad, including his brother Eduardo Bolsonaro, former intelligence chief Alexandre Ramagem and podcaster Paulo Figueiredo. Eduardo had suggested before the runoff that Flávio should leave Brazil if his campaign failed, then described reports that his brother fled as a “lie.”
The episode recalls Jair Bolsonaro’s trip to Orlando, Florida, after losing Brazil’s 2022 presidential election. He remained in the United States for three months while supporters later attacked government institutions in Brasília. Jair Bolsonaro and his allies were subsequently convicted over efforts to overturn the 2022 result, and he received a 27-year prison sentence.
FAQ: Flávio Bolsonaro’s entry into the United States
Why was Flávio Bolsonaro ordered to surrender his passports? Brazil’s Supreme Court issued the order as investigations involving allegations of corruption, money laundering and currency evasion continued. Bolsonaro denies any wrongdoing.
Did Trump approve Flávio Bolsonaro’s entry? A Trump adviser said Trump approved allowing Flávio Bolsonaro to enter the United States. US officials had already said Bolsonaro and members of his family would receive visas.
Was Bolsonaro under arrest when he left Brazil? No arrest warrant had been issued at the time of his departure. Still, legal analysts said failure to follow the passport order could potentially lead to a warrant.
