The United States announced that the State Department would issue visas to Flávio Bolsonaro and his family, according to a senior U.S. administration official on Tuesday. The visa announcement comes amid multiple reports that Bolsonaro, a conservative politician and ally of President Donald Trump, has departed Brazil following Sunday’s presidential election, though his whereabouts have not been independently verified.
Bolsonaro lost the presidential runoff to incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by more than four million votes on October 25, 2026, garnering approximately 48% of valid votes compared to Lula’s just over 51%. Despite his Liberal Party recognizing Lula’s victory, Bolsonaro has not conceded defeat. The defeat came three weeks after Bolsonaro advanced from the first round of voting.
Bolsonaro faces multiple investigations in Brazil, including allegations of money laundering and tax evasion, which he denies. On Monday, Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered him to surrender his passports within 24 hours and barred him from leaving the country. The order followed comments by Bolsonaro’s brother Eduardo, who resides in self-imposed exile in Florida, suggesting Flávio should depart Brazil if he lost. In a video released the same day, Bolsonaro stated he had surrendered his passports to federal police but denied he intended to leave the country, characterizing the Supreme Court order as intimidation.
Brazilian media reported on Tuesday that Bolsonaro had departed for the United States, though his campaign manager, lawyer, and political allies said they could not confirm his whereabouts. Lula criticized Bolsonaro’s reported departure during celebrations for his 81st birthday in Brasília on Tuesday, noting that those without wrongdoing have nothing to fear and suggesting the former candidate could have remained to defend himself against accusations. Lula also criticized the Bolsonaro family’s close relationship with the Trump administration. President Trump has cast doubt on Lula’s election victory without providing evidence, characterizing it as potentially rigged.
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