Rubio denies US helped Bolsonaro flee Brazil

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in Atlanta on Saturday that the Trump administration did not facilitate the departure of Flávio Bolsonaro from Brazil. Rubio spoke to the press during a G20 meeting of top diplomats from the world's largest economies. He emphasized that Washington was not directly involved in the measures taken to help the Brazilian politician leave his home country.

Flávio Bolsonaro arrived in Miami on Wednesday. This move came one day after the U.S. State Department announced that it would grant visas to Bolsonaro and his family. The visa decision followed Bolsonaro's narrow loss in the weekend presidential election against incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The result broke a recent trend of conservative victories in Latin America.

Rubio stated that the U.S. government was informed of Bolsonaro's arrival in the United States. He noted that the Brazilian candidate previously held a visa. Rubio added that President Donald Trump made the decision to allow Bolsonaro into the country. The Secretary of State said, “We were informed that he arrived in the United States. He had a visa before, and the president made the decision to allow him entry to the country.”

Bolsonaro is 45 years old and serves as a senator for Rio de Janeiro. He lost his tacit support from President Trump during the campaign. In Brazil, he faces investigations for corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion. Brazilian police considered him a flight risk and ordered him to surrender his passport. Bolsonaro will lose his Senate seat when the new Brazilian legislature takes effect on February 1.

The defeated candidate refused to acknowledge his loss. He called the election fraudulent without providing evidence. His father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, also refused to accept defeat in 2022. Jair Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year sentence for attempted coup d'état. Flávio Bolsonaro repeated his claim of being a victim of political persecution in a live Instagram broadcast on Friday.

In a letter published on Wednesday, Bolsonaro declared himself the “true elected president of Brazil.” He later softened the title to “leader.” He compared himself to Charles de Gaulle, who led the French resistance against the Nazi occupation from London during World War II. Rubio said he met with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in Atlanta on Friday and Saturday. Rubio expects to see Brazilian officials again in France in November during a foreign ministers' meeting.