Brazil's Flávio Bolsonaro Flees to Miami, Claims Political Persecution

Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who recently lost the presidential election, arrived in Miami on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, claiming to be Brazil's legitimate "leader" and denying he fled his home country. Bolsonaro asserted his departure was not an escape but a necessary move to lead his supporters and avoid being silenced or imprisoned, framing his situation as a "coup d'état". He alleged widespread electoral fraud in the recent election, which saw Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva win, without providing evidence to support his claims.

His arrival in the United States followed a circuitous journey through Argentina and Ecuador, coming days after his defeat in the October 25 runoff election. Bolsonaro's travel defied a Brazilian Supreme Court order issued on Monday, October 26, which mandated he surrender his Brazilian passports amid ongoing investigations into alleged corruption and money laundering. He reportedly used his Italian passport for the journey.

This development mirrors a similar situation involving his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who also traveled to Florida after losing the 2022 election and is currently serving a prison sentence under house arrest for attempting to overturn democratic rule. Brazilian President Lula da Silva criticized Flávio Bolsonaro's departure as "shameful".