Flávio Bolsonaro Speaks at CPAC After Fleeing Brazil
Flávio Bolsonaro made his first U.S. public appearance at a CPAC gala at Mar-a-Lago after fleeing Brazil following his presidential election defeat.
Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) annual gala at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, on November 5, 2026. This marked his first major public appearance in the United States since fleeing Brazil on October 28, following his defeat in the October 25 presidential runoff against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Bolsonaro left Brazil in defiance of an order from Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to surrender his passport and remain in the country, which led the Federal Police to cancel his travel documents. While Bolsonaro claimed he received no help fleeing, reports suggest assistance from Jason Miller and Santiago Caputo. He now faces federal police investigations for corruption and money laundering and is expected to lose parliamentary immunity early next year.
During the gala, Bolsonaro stated that his defeat is not "the end for Brazil" and expressed his intent to run in future elections, though he noted his immediate future is in the United States. He characterized his situation as "persecution" and intends to lead an "opposition in exile." His brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, also resides in the U.S. to avoid a four-year sentence for coercion.
President Donald Trump welcomed Bolsonaro to remain in the U.S. "as long as he wants," though he declined a bilateral meeting. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the U.S. government was not directly involved in arranging the trip.
