Bolsonaro Son Lands in Miami After Defying Brazilian Court

Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro stepped off a private jet in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday morning. He arrived with his wife and two daughters, ending a rapid departure from Brazil that began late Tuesday.

The family’s exit followed a weekend of political friction. On Sunday, Bolsonaro lost the presidential election. By Tuesday, he had declined to concede defeat and announced plans to challenge the results. The Supreme Court ordered him to surrender his passports due to a money-laundering probe. Bolsonaro denied wrongdoing but failed to comply with that directive.

The flight path drew scrutiny across the hemisphere. The group first landed in Argentina late Tuesday. They then boarded a second private jet for Guayaquil, Ecuador. From there, they continued to the Miami-Opa Locka airport. Witnesses saw the family walking from a Gulfstream G400 into the terminal.

This move contradicted Bolsonaro’s public stance earlier in the week. On Monday, he posted on Instagram that he intended to stay in Brazil. He stated he would hand over his passports to defend against what he called a clear attempt to intimidate him. He described the legal situation as a travesty.

Bolsonaro holds Italian citizenship alongside his Brazilian nationality. This status allowed him to travel despite the cancellation of his Brazilian and diplomatic passports. His senatorial term ends in February. At that time, his immunity from prosecution will expire.

The arrival in the United States may strain relations between the two largest economies in the Americas. His father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, also relocated to Florida after the previous electoral cycle. Jair Bolsonaro is currently incarcerated in Brazil. He faces charges of leading a conspiracy to retain power after losing the 2022 election.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had accused the US administration of coordinating with the Bolsonaro family during the campaign. US President Donald Trump questioned the integrity of the recent vote. He criticized the extension of voting hours as a very bad look. The US State Department confirmed it would grant visas to Flavio Bolsonaro and his family.