Flávio Bolsonaro, a Brazilian senator and defeated presidential candidate, arrived in Miami on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. His arrival at Miami-Opa locka Executive Airport followed a journey through Argentina and Ecuador that began after he lost the presidential election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro was accompanied by his wife, Fernanda Antunes Figueira Bolsonaro, and their two daughters, Carolina and Luiza.
The departure occurred as Bolsonaro faces two investigations by Brazil’s Supreme Court involving allegations of corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion. The court had ordered Bolsonaro to surrender his regular and diplomatic passports by noon on Tuesday, Oct. 27. While it is unclear if he complied, his allies stated he also holds an Italian passport. Before leaving the country, Bolsonaro visited his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for an attempted coup following his 2022 election loss.
According to Argentine migration authorities, the Bolsonaro family crossed the border into Misiones province at 10:50 p.m. on Tuesday. They then boarded a private charter flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador, before continuing to Florida. President Donald Trump stated Wednesday that he approved of their arrival in the U.S. and questioned the validity of the Brazilian election results. Conversely, President Lula termed the departure "shameful," suggesting Bolsonaro should have remained in Brazil to contest the accusations against him.
The arrival of a sitting senator and recent presidential candidate in the U.S. while facing active Supreme Court investigations affects diplomatic relations between Brazil, Argentina, and the U.S. Bolsonaro's eight-year Senate term is set to expire on Jan. 31, 2027. At that time, he will lose special legal jurisdiction, which currently keeps his cases under the authority of the Supreme Court.
For the Brazilian public, particularly the voters who formed the 4.4 million-vote margin between the candidates, this movement marks a shift in the political opposition. While in Brazil, Bolsonaro stated he was attempting to organize legislative opposition to the election results; his absence may change how his supporters and congressional colleagues interact with the Lula administration. One investigation involves allegations that a sports betting company was used to launder fraudulent deductions from government pensions.
The international community, including the Organization of American States, has endorsed the election results. Legal proceedings regarding the corruption and tax evasion charges will continue in Brazil, and a press conference is scheduled in Miami on Thursday, Oct. 29. It is not yet known if Brazil will seek formal extradition.