Flávio Bolsonaro Flees to US

After lying to the press that he wasn’t a flight risk, Bolsonaro snuck out of the country in the dead of night, with alleged support from the Trump Administration and is now in the U.S.

By Emanuela Godoy

Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro arrived in the United States on Tuesday, according to Mexican lawyer Simón Levy, who describes himself as a liaison to President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement. In a post on X made at 3:20 p.m., Levy said the failed presidential candidate had landed safely and credited U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio with orchestrating the operation.

Senator Bolsonaro, under investigation for a series of crimes including money laundering, was deemed a flight risk by Brazil’s Supreme Court and fled the country after it demanded he turn over his passport. (Photo: Lula Marques/Agência Brasil)

As of the time this information was provided, the U.S. government, Brazil’s Foreign Ministry and the Federal Police had not officially confirmed his arrival. Brazilian authorities also had no formal record of the senator leaving the country.

“As I reported hours ago, Flávio Bolsonaro has arrived safely in United States. The mastermind behind this operation is U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. From the United States, free and safe, Flávio will lead the opposition against Lula,” Levy wrote on X.

The trip came after Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered Bolsonaro’s passport seized. According to reports, he fled Brazil overnight, accompanied by his family, with help from a small group of allies from both Brazil and the United States. The Federal Police found no record of him passing through a regular immigration checkpoint.

Bolsonaro’s legal team said their last contact with him was at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Reports in the Argentine press mentioned a possible border crossing and a jet that reportedly reached Puerto Iguazú but never took off. The exact circumstances of his departure have not been officially confirmed.

Bolsonaro Said He Would Stay in Brazil, Then Fled the Next Day

Bolsonaro had said he would hand over his passport to the Federal Police and would not leave the country over the election results. That is not what happened.

Who Is Simón Levy

Simón Levy is a Mexican lawyer and businessman who presents himself as connected to the MAGA movement. He previously served in the government of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Levy had already said on social media that Bolsonaro was en route to the United States. He later announced the senator’s arrival and said Rubio was responsible for orchestrating it. In another post, he said a U.S. protection operation was underway to ensure the lawmaker’s safety.

Levy’s statements, however, have not been confirmed by U.S. officials. His claim of proximity to Trump’s political circle does not, on its own, prove that the U.S. government formally participated in Bolsonaro’s departure or his reception in the United States.

What Is Operation Alba

Operation Alba is a name Levy uses to describe an alleged political strategy involving Bolsonaro and U.S. activity in Latin America. According to Levy, the senator will lead opposition to President Lula da Silva’s government from within the United States.

In Levy’s account, the effort is tied to pressure from Washington on Venezuela, Cuba and Mexico, including economic measures. Levy also credited Rubio with orchestrating the operation. Levy has written about Operation Alba on his website.

Asylum Request or Fugitive From Justice?

Allies of Bolsonaro say he plans to request political asylum from President Trump. According to these accounts, that protection could extend to his wife and two daughters. The reported favorable signal from the U.S. government has also not been officially confirmed.

In Brazil, the Federal Police canceled both Bolsonaro’s regular and diplomatic passports. Workers’ Party (PT) lawmakers have requested his pretrial detention and asked that his name be added to an Interpol Red Notice. The Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL), meanwhile, has asked the Senate to investigate whether he has abandoned his elected position.

His departure also upends the political plans attributed to him. Allies had said he intended to lead opposition to Lula’s government in Congress. With his trip to the United States, that strategy is now on hold, according to these accounts.

This article originally ran in the Brazilian labor union news portal TVT News, was translated with express authorization of the editor by Panamerican Dispatch, and can be read in its original Portuguese here.