Flávio Bolsonaro Lands in Miami After Fleeing Brazil Following Election Defeat
Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro landed in Miami on Wednesday, October 28, after fleeing Brazil following his defeat in the country’s presidential runoff election, ending days of confusion over his whereabouts. Reuters television images showed his arrival, and USA Today reported that he and members of his family were photographed stepping off an airplane at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport in Miami-Dade County.
Bolsonaro, an ally of United States President Donald Trump, lost Sunday’s runoff to incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He left Brazil after refusing to comply with a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports to federal police on Tuesday. USA Today reported that the order came as part of a criminal investigation into Bolsonaro’s alleged involvement in a money-laundering scheme. Bolsonaro has denied wrongdoing in connection with the wider investigation into the financing of a film about his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, and he has not conceded the election result.
A journey through Argentina and Ecuador
Bolsonaro’s route out of Brazil only became clear in stages. Argentina’s migration department said he entered Argentina with his wife and two daughters late on Tuesday evening through the Tancredo Neves International Bridge border crossing. The family then boarded a private flight bound for Guayaquil, Ecuador, according to the flight plan cited by Argentina’s migration department.
Reuters, citing FlightAware tracking, reported that a Gulfstream G400 operated by Baires Fly departed Puerto Iguazu at 12:22 a.m. local time and landed in Guayaquil at 3:46 a.m., before departing for Miami’s Opa-locka Executive Airport, where it was scheduled to land at 9:18 a.m. local time. For much of Tuesday, Bolsonaro’s location had been unclear, with conflicting reports placing him in the United States or Ecuador.
US visas and Trump’s approval
The United States State Department said on October 27 that it would issue visas to Bolsonaro and his family and allow them to enter the United States, USA Today reported. President Trump said on Wednesday that he approved of Bolsonaro coming to the United States, telling reporters: “I would approve.” He described the Bolsonaro family as “fine people” and called the election “very strange,” while adding that he knew both Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro.
Trump’s comments came as he returned from a campaign trip to Texas. His younger brother Eduardo Bolsonaro, who has lived in Texas since 2025, had suggested during an October 23 podcast appearance that his brother should leave Brazil if he lost the election — comments that reportedly prompted Brazilian authorities to order Flávio Bolsonaro to surrender his passport.
No search warrant, Supreme Court says
Brazil’s Supreme Court said on Wednesday that no police operation had been carried out and no search or seizure warrant had been issued targeting Senator Bolsonaro. The statement followed a report by news outlet G1 that federal police had served a search warrant at his house in Brasilia, which the court said was false.
What happens next remains uncertain. The terms and duration of Bolsonaro’s US visas have not been publicly detailed, and the legal proceedings in Brazil that prompted the passport order continue. Argentina’s presidency has said there was no asylum request from Bolsonaro. Meanwhile, Lula’s re-election has already rattled Brazilian markets, with the B3 exchange halting trading after a sharp fall in stocks following the result.
Why this matters
Bolsonaro’s flight to the United States turns a domestic Brazilian legal and political crisis into a diplomatic question for Washington. His arrival, with explicit US visa approval and public backing from Trump, sets up a potential point of friction with Lula’s incoming government and with Brazil’s Supreme Court, which had ordered him to surrender his travel documents. How long he stays, and whether Brazil seeks his return, will shape the next chapter of the dispute.
Frequently asked questions
Where did Flávio Bolsonaro land?
He landed in Miami on Wednesday, October 28, and was photographed at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, according to USA Today. Reuters television images also showed his arrival in Miami.
Why did he leave Brazil?
He left after losing the October 25 presidential runoff to Lula and after refusing to comply with a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports, an order linked to a criminal investigation into alleged money laundering. He denies wrongdoing.
Did the US approve his entry?
Yes. The State Department said on October 27 that it would issue visas to Bolsonaro and his family, and President Trump said on Wednesday that he approved of his coming to the United States.
Sources: Reuters https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-flavio-bolsonaro-arrives-us-after-election-defeat-2026-10-28/ ; USA Today https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2026/10/28/flavio-bolsonaro-in-us-after-fleeing-brazil/92476081007/ ; Reuters https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/flavio-bolsonaro-expected-land-miami-shortly-after-trump-offers-brazil-exit-2026-10-28/ ; Reuters https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-says-he-approves-brazils-flavio-bolsonaro-coming-us-2026-10-28/ ; Reuters https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-supreme-court-says-no-search-warrant-issued-against-senator-flavio-2026-10-28/
