State Department denies role in Bolsonaro's U.S. arrival

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that the Trump administration helped arrange Flávio Bolsonaro's travel to the United States.

Rubio made the statement on Saturday in Atlanta, where leaders from the Group of 20 economies were meeting. He said the government did not facilitate the senator's departure from Brazil.

Flávio Bolsonaro, a presidential candidate who lost to incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, arrived in Miami on Wednesday. His visit followed a weekend election that broke a pattern of conservative wins in the region.

The State Department announced on Tuesday that Bolsonaro and his family would receive U.S. visas. Rubio explained that the senator had previously held a visa and that President Donald Trump made the decision to allow him into the country. The secretary said the U.S. government was not directly involved in the specific moves that led to his arrival.

The political tension extends to Bolsonaro's father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently serving a 27-year sentence for attempting a coup. Both father and son refused to concede the 2022 and 2026 races, respectively. Flávio Bolsonaro has called the recent election fraudulent but has not provided evidence to support that claim.

The senator faces investigations in Brazil for corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion. Police had deemed him a flight risk and ordered him to surrender his passport. He is also set to lose his seat in the Senate when the new legislature begins on Feb. 1, 2027.

On Friday, Bolsonaro claimed on Instagram that he is a victim of persecution. In a letter sent on Wednesday, he referred to himself as the true president-elect of Brazil. He later changed this title to leader and compared his situation to Charles de Gaulle, who led the French resistance from London during World War II. Rubio said he met with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in Atlanta and expects to see Brazilian officials again in France next month.