Flávio Bolsonaro Flees Brazil and Arrives in Miami Following Election Defeat
Flávio Bolsonaro, Brazilian senator and recent presidential candidate, arrived in Miami on the morning of October 28 with his wife and two daughters, days after losing Brazil’s presidential runoff election. The official results from the Superior Electoral Court confirmed that incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won with 51.79% of the valid votes, while Bolsonaro received 48.21%, a difference of nearly 4 million votes.
Despite publicly stating he had no intention of leaving Brazil and would remain to lead the opposition, Bolsonaro departed the country late on October 27. He crossed into Argentina using an Italian passport, accompanied by his family, before boarding a private jet that made a brief stopover in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and then continued to the United States. The Gulfstream G400 aircraft touched down at Miami’s Opa-locka Executive Airport at approximately 10:24 a.m. Brasília time.
Bolsonaro’s departure came in direct defiance of an order issued by Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The order, issued on October 25, required Bolsonaro to surrender both his Brazilian and foreign passports as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering and financial irregularities involving the senator. Bolsonaro and his associates have denied any wrongdoing. Brazilian authorities confirmed that Bolsonaro did not comply with the deadline to hand over his travel documents.
Argentine migration authorities confirmed that Bolsonaro and his family entered Argentina late on October 27 via the Tancredo Neves International Bridge in Misiones province. The family then boarded the private plane shortly thereafter. Flight tracking data and pilot statements indicate the flight path was deliberately routed to avoid Brazilian airspace, with the stopover in Ecuador before proceeding north to Miami.
The United States government has confirmed that visas were granted to Bolsonaro and his immediate family, allowing their entry and stay in the country. Former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed support for Bolsonaro’s arrival, stating he approved of the move, though he admitted uncertainty about Bolsonaro’s precise whereabouts prior to confirmation of the Miami landing.
Bolsonaro’s flight to the United States follows a pattern seen in his family. His father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, fled to Florida after losing the 2022 presidential election but returned to Brazil a few months later. Flávio Bolsonaro’s current term as senator is due to end in February 2027, after which he will lose parliamentary immunity, potentially exposing him to increased legal risks related to ongoing investigations.
Despite the passport surrender order and Bolsonaro’s departure, there is no public record of any arrest warrant or immediate legal action against him in Brazil. The Supreme Federal Court has not authorised any police operations, searches, or seizures targeting Bolsonaro or his residences at this time. Political and legal developments are ongoing as Bolsonaro settles in the United States.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva criticised Bolsonaro’s flight, calling it “shameful” and suggesting it raised questions about what Bolsonaro might be attempting to conceal. Meanwhile, Bolsonaro’s campaign manager and allies have largely refrained from commenting on his whereabouts, with some speculating the senator may seek political asylum or continue his opposition activities from abroad.