Flávio Bolsonaro lands in Miami after leaving Brazil following election defeat

Brazilian Senator and defeated presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro arrived in Miami, Florida with his family on Wednesday. BBC News, France 24, Deutsche Welle, and Al Jazeera all reported that his arrival follows his defeat in the recent presidential runoff election against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. [1][3][4][5][6]

According to France 24, Deutsche Welle, and Al Jazeera, Bolsonaro travelled to the United States after refusing to comply with a Brazilian Supreme Court order requiring him to surrender his passports. Deutsche Welle noted that he is also facing allegations of money laundering. [3][4][5]

Upon reaching Florida, Bolsonaro declared himself the rightful leader of Brazil. The South China Morning Post reported that he claimed an electoral coup d'état was carried out by the Supreme Court and President Lula, who won the election by more than four million votes. [1][4][6]

BBC News reported that Bolsonaro denied fleeing his homeland, stating that he departed from a regime of exception so that he could become a leader. He thanked the presidents of Argentina and the United States, as well as the American public. [1]