On October 28, Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro declared himself the rightful president-elect of Brazil following a contentious defeat in the presidential runoff held on October 25.
In an open letter circulated by allies upon his arrival in the U.S., he referred to himself as “the true elected president of Brazil,” expressing gratitude to Argentine President Javier Milei and U.S. President Donald Trump for their support.
Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro and a candidate representing the Liberal Party, faced off against incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The election results attracted significant scrutiny due to a controversial court order issued by a justice previously associated with Lula, which extended voting hours by two hours.
As a result, numerous polling stations closed and were unable to reopen post the extension, causing widespread unrest.
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CARTA À NAÇÃO BRASILEIRA
28.10.26 pic.twitter.com/QqOGZuF8G0— Flávio Bolsonaro (@FlavioBolsonaro) October 28, 2026
In his letter, Bolsonaro recounted watching “electoral fraud unfold right before my eyes” on election night, placing blame on Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin for the turmoil.
He noted that his inquiries into the election were swiftly met with a legal response. In his view, a judge involved in a significant corruption scandal hastily initiated proceedings against him, portraying the events as a politically orchestrated attack aimed at obstructing him and shielding Supreme Court justices from accountability.
“I want to make this clear: I did not flee Brazil,” Bolsonaro affirmed. “I left for Brazil’s sake.” He argued that remaining silent would hinder his ability to lead effectively against a controlled opposition.
He drew comparisons to historic figures such as Rui Barbosa and Juan Guaidó, emphasizing that figures opposing regimes from outside often faced persecution but were later vindicated by history. Bolsonaro committed to leading the opposition from the U.S., frequently communicating with Brazilians and strategizing to counteract Lula’s perceived dictatorial regime.
He also called upon the international community to not normalize the events unfolding in Brazil.
After the election outcome, Bolsonaro and his family arrived in the United States, landing at Opa-locka Executive Airport near Miami after traveling through Argentina and Ecuador. His family accompanied him, including his wife and two daughters.
This departure came after he declined to comply with a Supreme Federal Court order to surrender his regular and diplomatic passports, which is part of an ongoing money-laundering investigation he denies. U.S. authorities granted visas to Bolsonaro and his family, and the Trump administration confirmed their entry.
