Exiled Bolsonaro declares himself Brazil's true president

Flavio Bolsonaro, in exile in the United States after losing Brazil's presidential election to Lula, proclaimed himself the "true president" and compared himself to Charles de Gaulle. He vowed to lead the opposition from abroad. In a statement, Bolsonaro alleged electoral fraud, claiming Lula's vote increase was "mathematically impossible." He thanked former President Trump for hosting him and said he would mobilize opposition through "peaceful and legitimate means" to prevent a "dictatorial regime." Bolsonaro's Liberal Party officially conceded the election, which Lula won with 52% of the vote. The 45-year-old senator is the son of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who was also defeated by Lula in 2022.