Flávio Bolsonaro landed at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. His arrival marked his first statement since leaving Brazil. He declared himself the “president-elect” and accused President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration of political persecution and electoral fraud. His comments came soon after he entered the United States following his election loss.
In a detailed message on X, Bolsonaro addressed both “the Brazilian people and the international community”. He expressed gratitude to Argentine President Javier Milei for his support and thanked former President Donald Trump for his welcoming stance. “I will not abandon you,” he stated, vowing to be the “voice and free leadership” for Brazil. He compared himself to historical exiled figures like Charles de Gaulle and José Martí. Bolsonaro asserted it was never his intention to leave Brazil, but stressed he knew the sequence of events, likening it to a “classic playbook of any coup d’état”. He later clarified his role as simply a “leader”.
His arrival at the Opa-locka Airport in Miami with his family followed a dramatic 72-hour period. Uniformed officers helped shield them from the media as they were escorted into a vehicle. Prior to this, Argentina’s migration authority reported on X that Bolsonaro and his family crossed into Argentina from Brazil late Tuesday. Equipped with valid documentation, the family entered via the Tancredo Neves International Bridge border crossing in Misiones province. The group later boarded a private flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador, late Tuesday night.
Bolsonaro, known for his conservative stance and association with Trump, was defeated in the recent presidential election by Lula, losing by over four million votes. Despite the Liberal Party acknowledging Lula’s victory, Bolsonaro hasn’t conceded. A U.S. State Department official confirmed that visas would be issued to Bolsonaro and his family, allowing entry into the United States. This decision coincides with Bolsonaro facing several investigations in Brazil, particularly allegations of money laundering and tax evasion, all of which he denies. The Brazilian Supreme Court recently ordered him to surrender his passports within 24 hours, barring his departure from the country.
On Monday, he mentioned in a video that federal police blocked him near his father, ex-President Jair Bolsonaro’s home, requesting his passports. Jair Bolsonaro is under house arrest, sentenced to 27 years for a failed coup attempt after his 2022 election loss to Lula. “I never thought about leaving the country,” Flávio stated, committing to defending against these actions he described as intimidation. Despite this, Brazilian media reported his departure to the U.S. by Tuesday.
Trump, at a rally in Texas, echoed doubts about Lula’s victory, insinuating election misconduct without evidence. “Brazil is also doing a good job of it, aren’t they?” Trump rhetorically questioned, comparing the situation to his claims of election fraud in the U.S. Meanwhile, Lula criticized Bolsonaro’s exit during birthday celebrations in Brasília. “Those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear,” Lula remarked, implying Bolsonaro could have stayed to disprove the accusations if unfounded. Lula viewed Bolsonaro’s ties to Trump as concerning, suggesting the U.S. as their more preferred residence.