Flavio Bolsonaro Claims Presidency From Miami After Flight to US

Flavio Bolsonaro, the right-wing senator who lost Brazil's presidential election on Sunday, declared himself the true president-elect from Miami on Wednesday.

Bolsonaro and his family arrived at the Miami-Opa Locka airport in the early morning hours. Witnesses saw the group disembark from a Gulfstream G400 aircraft. The arrival marked the culmination of a rapid transit across South America that began late on Tuesday.

The move followed Bolsonaro's refusal to concede defeat in the election results. He pledged to challenge the outcome and ignored a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports. The order was linked to an ongoing money-laundering investigation in which Bolsonaro denies any wrongdoing.

The United States State Department announced it would grant visas to Bolsonaro and his family. This decision cleared the path for their entry into the US, despite the cancellation of their Brazilian and diplomatic travel documents.

In an open letter shared with journalists by his allies, Bolsonaro stated he left Brazil to be the leader his people deserve. He characterized the loss as an electoral coup orchestrated by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the Supreme Court.

"I want to say, not only to my 60 million voters but to the Brazilian people, that I am the elected president and that the criminals who stole Brazil's election are part of a criminal organization that has established a tyranny," Bolsonaro wrote in the letter.

He did not present evidence of fraud to support his claims. International observers who monitored Sunday's voting reported that the process was fair. Bolsonaro said he would lead the opposition from the United States.

The journey to the US involved stops in Argentina and Ecuador. The group first flew into Argentina late on Tuesday, then took a private jet to Guayaquil, Ecuador, before continuing to Florida. Bolsonaro also holds Italian citizenship, which allowed him to travel after his other passports were canceled.

Bolsonaro previously said on Instagram that he had no intention of leaving the country. He stated on Monday that he would hand over his passports and defend himself against what he called an attempt to intimidate him. His immunity from prosecution ends in February when his Senate term concludes.

His departure mirrors the path taken by his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, after the 2022 election. Jair Bolsonaro is currently jailed in Brazil on charges of leading a conspiracy to remain in power. The current rift between Washington and Brasilia could deepen due to this move. During the campaign, Lula accused the Trump administration of colluding with the Bolsonaro family. President Trump questioned the integrity of the vote, calling the extension of voting times a "very bad look."