Flávio Bolsonaro's brief claim as Brazil's president-elect draws widespread criticism
After losing Brazil's presidential election, Flávio Bolsonaro fled to the United States and for less than an hour declared himself the country's president-elect, prompting sharp rebuke from Brazilian media and officials.
Flávio Bolsonaro, a member of the Bolsonaro political family, left Brazil for Miami two days after being defeated by incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who won by a margin of 4.4 million votes. While in the United States, Bolsonaro issued a letter that claimed he was the "true president-elect of Brazil" and alleged election irregularities. The document, which was later corrected to describe him as a "leader of Brazil," also contained an outdated version of the national coat of arms.
Brazilian newspapers and commentators responded with strong criticism. The conservative newspaper Estado de São Paulo described the letter as "foolish" and said it failed to merit publication. O Globo called the move "shameful" and highlighted what it saw as the weakness of the Bolsonaro movement, while Folha de São Paulo labeled the family’s political style as "authoritarian" and "incompetent." Political analysts cited the episode as evidence that the far-right faction associated with the Bolsonaro name may be losing influence.
International reactions were muted. President Donald Trump, who has not publicly recognized the election outcome, declined to comment on Bolsonaro's claim, stating he would not become involved. A U.S. diplomatic cable obtained by Folha de São Paulo described Lula's victory as "surprising but definitive."
Social media users also mocked the claim, creating memes that juxtaposed Bolsonaro's alleged inauguration with fictional settings and altered slogans associated with his campaign.