Trump says Flavio Bolsonaro can stay in US indefinitely
The US President stated he has no plans to meet the Brazilian Senator who arrived in Miami following his election loss.
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro can remain in the United States as long as he wants. Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump described the recent Brazilian election as a disgrace.
Bolsonaro arrived in Miami with his family on Wednesday after leaving Brazil following his loss in the presidential runoff to incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The Senator's departure involved the use of decoy vehicles, a trip through Argentina, and a private jet that refuelled in Ecuador.
The Senator's move to the US follows legal challenges in Brazil, where the Supreme Court ordered the surrender of his passports within 24 hours as part of a money-laundering investigation. Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing and claimed during an Instagram livestream that he is a victim of persecution.
The family was admitted to the US under humanitarian parole, a status that typically lasts for one year. Reports indicate that Trump approved their entry on Tuesday, after which Secretary of State Marco Rubio moved to issue visas.
While Bolsonaro claimed he is the elected president, Trump said he would not get involved in those comments. Earlier on Saturday, Secretary Rubio spoke with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira at a G20 meeting in Atlanta.
