The U.S. midterm elections could reshape political pressure surrounding Brazilian Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro’s stay in the country, but any removal decision rests with federal agencies. (Foto: Instagram)
The outcome of the U.S. midterm elections could affect how long Brazilian Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro remains in the United States. Voters are choosing all 435 members of the House of Representatives and 35 of the Senate’s 100 members. Projections suggest the Democratic Party, which opposes President Donald Trump, could regain control of Congress, potentially shaping the remainder of Trump’s term.
Flávio Bolsonaro, who lost Brazil’s presidential election, traveled to the United States after Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court ordered the seizure of his passports. A possible removal of members of the Bolsonaro family from the country would not be a decision for Congress, however. That authority rests with the State Department, led by Marco Rubio, and the Department of Homeland Security. Congress could still open investigations into the family, a step that could put pressure on the Trump administration.
Flávio has relied on his alliance with Trump to reinforce his claim that he was elected Brazil’s president. Last week, he released a letter alleging election fraud, but did not provide evidence of irregularities in the vote. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 66% disapproved of the Trump administration. Meanwhile, the hashtag #DeportTheBolsonaros was among the most widely shared on Brazilian social media during the previous week.
His brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, a former member of Brazil’s lower house who was stripped of his mandate, has been in the United States since March 2025. He is seeking international sanctions against Brazilian officials and trying to prevent arrests and investigations in Brazil, according to the report. Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court convicted him this year.
Flávio faces three cases before the Supreme Federal Court and is expected to focus the coming months on preparing his defense. Unlike Eduardo, he has assembled a team of lawyers to represent him as they seek to prevent further judicial rulings. The investigations concern alleged money laundering involving attorney Willer Tomaz and betting platforms; alleged corruption connected to financing Dark Horse, a film about his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro; and alleged slander against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered Flávio to surrender his passport as part of the case involving the money-laundering investigation. Flávio and Tomaz are under investigation in connection with an alleged scheme that may have involved Tomaz’s companies and betting businesses. Flávio left Brazil the previous Tuesday with his wife and two daughters, after conflicting accounts and false information from allies about his whereabouts. They flew to Argentina, stopped in Ecuador, and continued to Miami. In the United States, Flávio met with Eduardo and Alexandre Ramagem, who has also been convicted by Brazilian courts.
