Rubio Denies US Role in Bolsonaro's Departure From Brazil

American citizens holding valid visas could expect routine entry procedures for the defeated Brazilian presidential candidate, according to new comments from the US secretary of state. Marco Rubio stated on Saturday that the Trump administration did not assist Flávio Bolsonaro in leaving Brazil after his electoral loss to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Bolsonaro arrived in Miami on Wednesday, one day after the US State Department announced that he and his family would receive American visas. The decision followed a closely contested election held over the previous weekend, which marked a break from the recent trend of conservative victories across Latin America.

Rubio addressed reporters in Atlanta, where senior diplomats from the Group of 20 convened. He clarified that the United States was not directly involved in any measures taken regarding the candidate's departure. "No facilitamos nada," Rubio said, adding that officials were informed of his arrival and that he previously held a visa that allowed his entry into the country.

The US secretary of state noted that he met with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in Atlanta on both Friday and Saturday. Rubio expects to meet with other Brazilian officials in France in November, when that country hosts a gathering of foreign ministers. He emphasized that the decision to allow Bolsonaro's entry rested with the president, based on the existing visa status.

Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, has refused to acknowledge his defeat, labeling the elections as fraudulent without providing evidence. His father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, also rejected his 2022 loss to Lula and is currently serving a 27-year sentence for an attempted coup. The younger Bolsonaro, who had the implicit support of Donald Trump during the campaign, faces investigations in Brazil for corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion.

Brazilian police ordered Bolsonaro to surrender his passport after deeming him a flight risk. He lost his Senate seat in Rio de Janeiro when the new legislature takes effect on February 1. In a live Instagram transmission on Friday, he reiterated that he is a victim of persecution. In a letter published on Wednesday, he initially declared himself the "true elected president of Brazil," a title he later softened to "leader," drawing comparisons to Charles de Gaulle during World War II.