Trump says Flavio Bolsonaro can stay in US indefinitely
The US President commented on the defeated Brazilian candidate during a Halloween party in Florida.
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that defeated Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro can stay in the United States indefinitely. Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump said of Bolsonaro, "He can stay here as long as he wants."
According to The Hindu, Bolsonaro arrived in the US after losing the election to incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro, who travelled to the US with his wife and two daughters, stated during an Instagram livestream that he left Brazil because he is a victim of persecution.
Bolsonaro claimed on X that he is the "elected president" and that he will lead the opposition from the US. He alleged that criminals who stole the election are part of a criminal organisation that has established a tyranny. Trump said he "won't get involved" in that claim.
The candidate faces federal money-laundering probes in Brazil and a Supreme Court Justice had revoked his passport. Bolsonaro was admitted to the US under humanitarian parole, a status that typically lasts for one year.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that the US government was not directly involved in the moves that led to Bolsonaro's departure. Rubio noted that he spoke with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira at a G20 meeting in Atlanta.
