Trump calls Brazil election a ‘disgrace’ as Bolsonaro flees to US

US President Donald Trump on Thursday intensified his criticism of Brazil’s presidential election, calling the result a “disgrace” and declining to say whether he recognised left-wing incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s victory over right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro.

Trump’s remarks came a day after Bolsonaro arrived in the United States and declared himself Brazil’s rightful leader despite losing Sunday’s presidential run-off. His departure has added to political tensions in Brazil, where Lula secured 51.8 percent of the vote.

“I think the election was a disgrace in Brazil,” Trump told reporters while travelling to a campaign event ahead of next week’s US midterm elections.

“I don’t want to comment on it right now, but I thought the election was a very great embarrassment to the people of Brazil,” he added, describing the outcome as a “very disgraceful situation”.

Trump said he had refrained from taking sides after being asked to do so by Lula, but his latest comments marked a sharper tone than his remarks on Wednesday, when he called the election “very strange” while saying he would not get involved in Bolsonaro’s challenge.

Bolsonaro claims victory and alleges electoral fraud

Bolsonaro arrived in Florida on Wednesday with his wife and daughters, beginning what he described as a self-imposed exile. In a statement posted on X, he rejected the election result and claimed that criminal forces had stolen the vote.

“I am the elected president,” Bolsonaro said, alleging that those responsible for the result were part of a criminal organisation that had established a tyranny.

His claims came despite Lula’s victory in the run-off. Bolsonaro’s departure has raised further questions about Brazil’s political stability, as he faces investigations at home over alleged corruption and money laundering.

With his parliamentary immunity due to expire, Bolsonaro had been ordered to surrender his passports but left Brazil anyway, travelling to the United States via Argentina and Ecuador.

The US Department of Homeland Security said Bolsonaro and his family members had been inspected and cleared in accordance with applicable immigration laws and procedures.