Bolsonaro Lands in Miami, Declares Victory

Flavio Bolsonaro and his family touched down at the Miami-Opa Locka airport in Florida on Wednesday morning. The group disembarked from a Gulfstream G400 private jet, marking the end of a rapid departure from Brazil that began late Tuesday.

The senator claimed the title of president-elect shortly after landing. In an open letter shared with journalists by his allies, he addressed his 60 million voters and the wider Brazilian public. He stated that he is the elected leader and accused his opponents of establishing a tyranny.

"I want to say, not only to my 60 million voters but to the Brazilian people, that I am the elected president and that the criminals who stole Brazil's election are part of a criminal organization that has established a tyranny," Bolsonaro wrote. He did not present specific evidence to support claims of electoral fraud, although international observers had previously certified Sunday's voting process as fair.

The flight path took the family through three countries. They first landed in Argentina late on Tuesday. From there, they boarded a second private jet bound for Guayaquil, Ecuador. The final leg of the trip carried them to the United States. Bolsonaro holds Italian citizenship, which allowed him to travel even after his Brazilian and diplomatic passports were canceled.

The move followed a public refusal to concede defeat. Bolsonaro ignored a Supreme Court order to surrender his documents. He is currently under investigation for money laundering, a charge he denies. His departure creates a potential strain in relations between the United States and Brazil.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused the Trump administration of colluding with the Bolsonaro family during the campaign. Trump later questioned the integrity of the vote, calling the extension of voting times a very bad look. The US State Department confirmed it would grant visas to Bolsonaro and his family.

The senator said he would lead the opposition from American soil. His father, Jair Bolsonaro, remains in Brazilian jail on charges of leading a conspiracy to keep him in power after the 2022 election. Flavio Bolsonaro loses his immunity from prosecution in February when his Senate term concludes.