After landing in US, Flavio Bolsonaro declares himself Brazil's rightful leader

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro declared ​himself Brazil's rightful leader on Wednesday after arriving in the United States, alleging he was the victim of an electoral coup by the country's ‌Supreme Court and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who won the vote by over 4 million votes.

Bolsonaro arrived in Miami after leaving Brazil, where he refused to comply with a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports. He thanked Argentine leader Javier Milei for helping him make the journey and US President Donald Trump, who granted him and his family entry visas, for welcoming him.

In an initial ​open letter posted on X, Bolsonaro declared himself "the elected president." He then deleted that version and updated it with another letter in which he said he ​was the rightful "leader" of Brazil.

"I want to say, not only to my 60 million voters but to the Brazilian people, that I ⁠am the leader and that the criminals who stole Brazil’s election are part of a criminal organization that has established a tyranny," he said in the updated version.

Lula's victory ​has been recognized by Brazil's federal electoral court, global leaders, international observers, and Bolsonaro's own party.

Brazil's election took place in full compliance with legal and constitutional requirements, electoral authority chief ​Kassio Nunes Marques said in a statement, without referencing Bolsonaro's letter.

Asked by reporters at Joint Base Andrews about Bolsonaro's comments, Trump declined to comment, reiterating earlier views that it was "a very strange election."

Problem for Washington

Bolsonaro's declaration poses a problem for Washington as it seeks to navigate a rift with Latin America's largest country, home to the world's second-largest reserves of rare earths.

Lula has accused Washington of colluding ​with the Bolsonaro family to help return them to power. Ahead of Sunday's election, Reuters reported on a US State Department campaign to restore the Bolsonaros to office. Washington denies ​meddling in Brazil's domestic affairs.

Trump has previously alleged Flavio's father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, was a victim of judicial persecution.

Jair Bolsonaro travelled to the United States after refusing to concede defeat to ‌Lula in ⁠2022. He eventually returned to Brazil but was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup after supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia.

There was no immediate response from the State Department.

Neither Lula's office nor the Supreme Court immediately responded to requests for comment.

Lula, who served time on corruption convictions that were later annulled, said this week it was "shameful" Bolsonaro had not stayed in Brazil to prove his innocence.