Bolsonaro declares himself 'leader of Brazil' in letter from US exile
Brazilian senator and defeated presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro declared himself "leader of Brazil" in a letter to the nation published Thursday, October 29, after secretly fleeing to the United States. In the letter posted on X, Bolsonaro alleged "disgusting election fraud" in the October 25 vote won by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, claiming the victory was achieved through a corrupt justice system. He vowed to lead a fight for democracy from abroad to prevent what he called a "dictatorial regime," without providing evidence. Bolsonaro thanked US President Donald Trump and Argentina's Javier Milei for support. He faces a Supreme Court travel ban and passport surrender order related to corruption and money laundering investigations, and has Italian citizenship. Brazilian officials dismissed his claims, with the electoral court affirming the election's legality.