US Secretary of State Rubio denies facilitating Bolsonaro's flight to US
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The gist
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US did not facilitate Flavio Bolsonaro's departure to the US.
A report says Rubio may leave to prepare a 2028 run.
Background
Marco Rubio is the US Secretary of State, also serving as national security adviser. Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, lost Brazil's presidential run-off to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and then traveled to the US via Argentina and Ecuador. The US State Department granted visas to Bolsonaro and his family, and he arrived in Miami on October 28. Rubio addressed the matter at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta, where he also held a news conference.
How it unfolded
- Oct 25, 2026Flavio Bolsonaro lost Brazil's presidential run-off to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
- Oct 27, 2026The US Department of State said Bolsonaro and his family would be granted US visas.
- Oct 28, 2026Bolsonaro arrived in Miami, Florida, a day after the State Department announced the visas.
- Oct 31, 2026Rubio told reporters in Atlanta that the US did not facilitate Bolsonaro's departure to the US.
- Nov 1, 2026Rubio held a news conference on the final day of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Atlanta.
- Nov 5, 2026The Independent reported Rubio may exit the Trump administration to prepare a possible 2028 presidential campaign, citing unnamed sources.
Key terms
- Secretary of State
- The head of the US Department of State who directs foreign affairs, equivalent to a minister of foreign affairs.
- run-off
- A second election between the top two vote-getters when no candidate wins a majority in the first round.
- G20
- An intergovernmental forum of 19 countries plus the EU and AU addressing global economic issues through annual summits.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Rubio said the US did not facilitate anything and was not involved directly in any of the moves that were made.
- Trump
- President Trump said Bolsonaro 'got treated very shabbily' and 'can stay here as long as he wants'.
- Bolsonaro
- Flavio Bolsonaro refused to concede, called the elections fraudulent without providing evidence, and said he left because he was a victim of persecution.
- Analysts
- The Independent's report, citing unnamed sources, said Rubio may exit to prepare a 2028 presidential campaign, while one administration insider said he had shown no sign of wanting to quit.
Still unverified
The Independent's report on Rubio's expected exit cited unnamed Republican and British government sources; Rubio has not announced plans to resign or to run. Some US media outlets reported Bolsonaro's journey was partly arranged with the help of Jason Miller, a White House official. Bolsonaro called the Brazilian election fraudulent without providing evidence.