Politics · Brazil · 1 hr ago
US to grant Flavio Bolsonaro and family visas after Brazil election loss
The US says it will grant visas to Flavio Bolsonaro and his family after he lost Brazil’s presidential runoff to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Bolsonaro, a Brazilian senator and opposition candidate, has not conceded the closely contested election.
His whereabouts are unclear, and Lula said Bolsonaro had left Brazil, while the senator’s campaign manager said he had not heard from him since early Tuesday.
Bolsonaro was ordered to surrender his regular and diplomatic passports, but it was not known whether he had done so by the deadline.
He has made unsubstantiated claims of election fraud and asked Brazil’s electoral court to investigate and annul Lula’s and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin’s candidacies.
The visa decision could allow Bolsonaro to enter the United States, where his brother Eduardo lives; the State Department official did not say whether Bolsonaro had already left Brazil or was travelling to the US.
The US State Department said it will issue entry visas to Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro and his family.
The announcement followed Bolsonaro’s loss to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brazil’s presidential election.
Bolsonaro’s whereabouts were uncertain, and reports about whether and how he had left Brazil differed.
Brazil’s Supreme Court had ordered Bolsonaro to surrender his passports, and he had not conceded defeat.
President Donald Trump said he approved of Bolsonaro coming to the United States.
- Who
- Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro and his family will receive US visas.
- What
- The US State Department said it would issue them entry visas. Trump said he approved of Bolsonaro coming to the United States.
- When
- The State Department announcement was reported on October 27 and 28, 2026.
- Where
- The visas would allow entry into the United States; Bolsonaro’s whereabouts were uncertain.
- Why
- The announcement followed Bolsonaro’s loss in Brazil’s presidential election. The State Department did not state a reason for issuing the visas.
Flavio Bolsonaro and allies
Lula da Silva and Brazil's electoral authorities
Election result
Flavio Bolsonaro and allies
Bolsonaro has refused to concede and made unsubstantiated allegations of fraud.
Lula da Silva and Brazil's electoral authorities
Lula won the runoff, and Brazil's electoral court was asked to investigate Bolsonaro's allegations.
Bolsonaro lost the presidential runoff to Lula, according to the reports.
The election result was reported as Lula receiving 51.79% of the vote and Bolsonaro 48.21%.
Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered the cancellation of Bolsonaro’s passports and barred him from leaving Brazil, according to Folha.
A senior US State Department official said the department would issue visas to Bolsonaro and his family.
Trump said he approved of Bolsonaro coming to the United States.
- Visa recipients
- Flavio Bolsonaro and his family
- Visa decision
- US State Department said it would issue entry visas
- Election result
- Lula 51.79%; Bolsonaro 48.21%
- Passport order
- Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered Bolsonaro’s passports cancelled
- Trump’s comment
- He said he approved of Bolsonaro coming to the United States
4 sources
What people are saying
Well, I would approve
The result was ok [victory of Lula], but the way they got there was terrible.
We had no news from Flavio or his lawyers about what happened
I never thought about leaving the country