By Salma El-Sakka
Former US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that defeated Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro can remain in the United States indefinitely, describing the Brazilian election as a "disgrace." Trump made the remarks to reporters during a Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.
Bolsonaro's Arrival and Legal Troubles
Flavio Bolsonaro arrived at Opa-locka Executive Airport near Miami on October 28 after losing the election to leftist incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, despite leading in most opinion polls. A Brazilian Supreme Court justice had revoked his passport shortly after the loss, citing federal money-laundering investigations and a flight risk. Bolsonaro was admitted to the US under humanitarian parole, a status typically limited to one year.
Diplomatic Signals and Family Background
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier on Saturday that he had spoken with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira at a G20 meeting in Atlanta and expected to meet again at a G7 foreign ministers' summit in France next month. Rubio stated the US government was not directly involved in Bolsonaro's departure from Brazil, though reports indicate a White House official helped arrange the journey. Trump said he has no plans to meet Bolsonaro or support his political ambitions. Flavio Bolsonaro's father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, is imprisoned in Brazil for plotting a coup after losing his 2022 re-election bid. Lula himself spent 17 months in jail on corruption charges that were later annulled.
