On October 28, Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, along with his wife and two daughters, landed at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport after a hasty exit from Brazil driven by fears for their safety. This move follows a highly questionable election in which leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva triumphed.
The Bolsonaro family crossed into Argentina before boarding a private jet to Miami. Reports indicate they entered Argentina just before midnight on October 27, using legitimate travel papers. After a brief stop in Ecuador, they reached Miami early on the 28th.
Following missed deadlines imposed by Brazil’s Supreme Court, Bolsonaro had his passports revoked amidst a money-laundering inquiry, which he firmly asserts he did not participate in. The family received assistance from the U.S. State Department for their visas, and President Donald Trump welcomed them, describing them as “fine people.”
Footage captured their arrival, showing the senator with a subdued demeanor as he stepped off the plane wearing a navy polo and backpack. His family followed closely behind, all of them shielding themselves from the media under umbrellas.
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Defeated Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro and his family have landed in Miami after fleeing his country.
This comes a day after they were granted United States visas by the Trump administration. pic.twitter.com/oB91ejWab5
— The Associated Press (@AP) October 28, 2026
Bolsonaro’s leave comes on the heels of a contentious election outcome that many view as suspicious due to late voting extensions mandated by a court linked to Lula’s administration. Critics deem this as contributing to the ongoing political turmoil.
President Trump commented on the election, stating it appeared “rigged” and quite odd, though he opted not to endorse a candidate outright.
With Flavio fleeing to the U.S., concerns loom over potential legal actions from Lula’s government against him and related political figures, including his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was imprisoned in 2025.
The Lula administration has labeled objections to the election results as a “coup attempt,” targeting Bolsonaro and his supporters severely. Legal proceedings have ensnared numerous opposition members and activists, prompting accusations of political targeting by the current government.
The U.S. government has introduced sanctions against the Brazilian Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes, further highlighting the intensifying tensions and political repression against dissenting voices in Brazil.
