Trump Declares Brazil Election a 'Disgrace' but Refuses to Take Sides

US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One on October 29 at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, stated that he would not take sides in Brazil's presidential election but characterized the contest as a "disgrace." "I thought the election was a great embarrassment to the people of Brazil," Trump said on Thursday morning. "I watched the election. I didn’t take sides. I let it be. I was asked not to take sides by the president, the current president. But when I watched what went down in Brazil, it was a disgrace…take a look at the market, I mean their market went down through the floor."

Trump's comments followed the departure of former Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro and his family, who fled Brazil and arrived in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday. The New York Times reported on Thursday that the US government, under Trump's administration, likely aided the Bolsonaro family's journey and would probably offer them permanent residency. Bolsonaro had lost the presidential run-off election on Sunday to the incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva by over four million votes. Following the election, the Brazilian real depreciated by 12 percent against the dollar in spot trading.

Brazil's Supreme Court had ordered Bolsonaro to surrender his passports shortly after the election, aiming to prevent him from fleeing the country amid investigations into embezzlement and money laundering. Bolsonaro reportedly left Brazil under the cover of darkness, crossing into Argentina with his wife and two daughters. The government of Argentina's President Javier Milei, an ally of Trump, had granted them visas. The family then traveled via a small private plane to Ecuador before reaching Miami on Wednesday morning.

Upon arrival in Miami, Bolsonaro declared himself the "true elected president of Brazil" and alleged that the accusations against him were a "politically motivated witch-hunt." He urged the international community "not to normalise what is happening in Brazil" and stated his intention to lead the country's opposition from the US, without providing supporting evidence for his claims. Bolsonaro's own Liberal Party had announced on Monday that it accepted the election outcome.

While Brazil and the US have a long-standing extradition treaty, it remains uncertain whether Washington would extradite Bolsonaro or if Brazilian authorities would formally indict him and request his extradition. Brazil's Supreme Court on Wednesday reportedly dispelled rumors of a search warrant being issued for Bolsonaro's home.

This situation bears resemblance to the journey of Jair Bolsonaro, Flavio's father and Brazil's former President, who also relocated to Florida after losing his re-election bid in 2022. During his time in the US, Jair Bolsonaro's supporters reportedly attempted to orchestrate a coup, and some in Brazil called for his extradition. He later returned to Brazil and is currently under house arrest.