Flavio Bolsonaro, the 45‑year‑old senator and son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, touched down in Miami on Wednesday, 29 October 2026, 48 hours after he publicly refused to concede his loss to Lula. The flight departed from Guayaquil, Ecuador, at 4 am local time and arrived at Opa‑Locka Executive Airport just before noon. The same aircraft had left Brazil via Argentina, where the family cleared immigration at 10:50 pm on Tuesday.
The Brazilian Supreme Court had already ordered Bolsonaro to surrender his regular and diplomatic passports by noon on Tuesday, citing investigations into alleged corruption, money laundering and tax evasion. Sources at the court confirmed that the passports were returned, though he reportedly retains an Italian passport that could complicate his legal status.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had campaigned alongside Bolsonaro in Brazil, publicly expressed support for the senator’s arrival, calling the family "fine people" and suggesting he would "approve" their presence in the United States. Trump’s remarks were made at Joint Base Andrews, hinting at a possible alignment with Bolsonaro’s political stance.
The move has already strained diplomatic ties, as Argentine President Javier Milei, a close ally of Trump, had flown to Brazil to campaign for Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro’s exit could trigger a diplomatic row between Brazil and Argentina, especially with Lula’s administration wary of external interference.
A Brazilian court is scheduled to hear the case on 5 November 2026, where the senator’s legal challenges and passport issues will be scrutinized. The outcome will determine whether Bolsonaro can remain in exile or must return to face the investigations awaiting him in Brazil.