Flávio Bolsonaro arrives in Miami after Brazil exit

Defeated Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro landed in Miami on Wednesday morning after leaving the country.

The 45-year-old senator arrived at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport around 9:30 a.m. EDT. He was accompanied by his wife and two daughters. The family had departed Brazil late Tuesday via a private charter plane.

Bolsonaro traveled through Argentina and Ecuador before reaching the United States. Argentine immigration officials said the group entered via a border checkpoint. Flight data indicated the plane landed in Guayaquil, Ecuador, at approximately 4 a.m. local time before taking off for Florida.

Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered Bolsonaro to surrender his regular and diplomatic passports by noon Tuesday. A Brazilian diplomat told The Associated Press that Bolsonaro used an Italian passport to cross into Argentina. The diplomat noted that authorities do not typically scrutinize Brazilians leaving via land borders.

The court is investigating Bolsonaro for alleged corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion. One case involves the use of a sports betting company to process fraudulent pension deductions. Another case accuses him of accepting millions of dollars from a banker. Bolsonaro has denied the allegations in both instances.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addressed supporters in Brasilia on Tuesday. Lula said he regretted Bolsonaro’s departure because the senator could have stayed to prove the accusations were false. Lula described the act of leaving Brazil as shameful.

U.S. President Donald Trump approved visas for Bolsonaro and his family earlier this week. Trump called the family fine people and questioned the integrity of the Brazilian election. He stated without evidence that the vote was rigged. The Organization of American States and global leaders have endorsed Lula’s reelection, which occurred by a margin of about 4.4 million votes.

Bolsonaro visited his father, Jair Bolsonaro, before departing. Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year house arrest sentence for an attempted coup following his 2022 election loss. Flávio Bolsonaro said he was working to organize opposition among congressional colleagues. His term as a senator ends on Jan. 31, 2027.