U.S. granting visas to Flávio Bolsonaro and family

A man in a gray suit and light blue shirt gazes upward with a worried expression, outdoors among blurred people; green trees and bright sky form the background. — Right-wing senator and presidential candidate for the Liberal Party (PL) Flavio Bolsonaro (C) in Brasilia, on Oct. 7. Photo: Sergio Lim/ FP via Getty Images

The U.S. government is granting visas to Flávio Bolsonaro and his family following his defeat in Brazil's presidential election, a senior Trump administration official tells Axios.

Why it matters: The move comes days after Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, in a closely watched election.

Driving the news: Following the election, Brazil's Supreme Court ordered Bolsonaro on Monday to surrender his passports and barred him from leaving the country.

The order relates to an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering. Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing.
Trump administration officials said they would not comment further until the Bolsonaro family is safely in the United States.

The big picture: President Trump and his administration have repeatedly backed the Bolsonaro family, with the president denouncing the prosecution of the elder Bolsonaro as a "witch hunt."

Jair Bolsonaro was convicted last year by Brazil's Supreme Court of plotting a coup to overturn the 2022 election and sentenced to a 27-year prison sentence, though he remains under house arrest due to health problems
Trump's administration has targeted Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the prosecution, with visa restrictions and, separately, sanctions that were later lifted.
The Trump administration also imposed steep tariffs on Brazilian imports in 2025, escalating tensions between Washington and Brasília.

Go deeper: Brazil's election ignites MAGA's midterm warnings

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information throughout.

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U.S. granting visas to Flávio Bolsonaro and family

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