Flavio Bolsonaro reportedly flees Brazil for US after election defeat

Flavio Bolsonaro suffered a shock defeat to left-wing incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Sunday’s presidential election. Following the loss, the right-wing politician flew to the US, according to NBC News.

His departure came after he refused to comply with an order to surrender his passports as part of a money-laundering probe.

A senior State Department official confirmed on Tuesday that the Trump administration would issue visas to Bolsonaro and his family, allowing them to enter the country.

Bolsonaro’s flight to the US mirrors his father Jair Bolsonaro’s move in 2022, when the former president left Brazil after losing an election to Lula. After returning to Brazil several months later, Jair Bolsonaro was convicted of conspiring to overthrow the government.

During his campaign, the younger Bolsonaro promised to secure the release of his father who is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting the coup.

President Donald Trump said he would approve Bolsonaro’s arrival, calling the election result strange and criticizing the outcome.

Bolsonaro’s exit could further strain relations between the two countries as political tensions rise following the election.