Bolsonaro Lands in Miami After Fleeing Brazil Following Election Loss

Family travels to Miami

Flávio Bolsonaro, his wife and their two daughters departed Brazil on Tuesday. CBS News Miami reported that they reached Miami the following morning. Argentinian officials and flight tracking data indicated that the family arrived in Argentina on Tuesday night before boarding a private aircraft for Guayaquil, Ecuador. The account says they later landed in Miami.

Election dispute continues

Bolsonaro lost Brazil’s closely contested presidential election over the weekend and has refused to concede. He has also made unsupported allegations of fraud. A sealed order from Brazil’s Supreme Court was issued Sunday, according to The Associated Press, which viewed the document. The account does not provide further details about the order.

Political reactions

Lula criticized the family’s departure on Tuesday, saying, “This is what the Bolsonaro family is like: Brazil is their second nation, the U.S. is the first,” according to Reuters. Silva also condemned the departure, calling it shameful, Agence France-Presse reported.

Bolsonaro’s brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, who lives in Texas, had urged him publicly to leave Brazil if he lost. A spokesperson for Flávio Bolsonaro did not respond to a comment request, while campaign manager Rogério Marinho declined to comment.

Trump comments on arrival

Donald Trump had suggested on Monday, without offering evidence, that Brazil’s election was rigged. He had not given Bolsonaro a full endorsement in the runoff against Lula. Trump told reporters early Wednesday that he approved of Bolsonaro coming to the United States, while saying he had heard Bolsonaro was in Argentina.