Flávio Bolsonaro faces backlash from allies after fleeing to Miami

Brazilian presidential election loser Flávio Bolsonaro faces criticism from his own political allies after secretly leaving for the United States and questioning the election result. Even his supporters are rejecting his fraud allegations. Bolsonaro published an open letter calling the election "abhorrent fraud" and declaring himself the "true" president, though he later softened this to "leader." He provided no evidence, while electoral authorities confirmed Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's victory with 51.8 percent of votes. Party leader Valdemar Costa Neto said no one approved the letter, and even his father, imprisoned ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, was unaware of the departure. Bolsonaro traveled secretly to Miami despite a travel ban related to money laundering investigations, using his Italian passport. His former campaign coordinator Rogério Marinho and São Paulo governor Tarcísio de Freitas both urged respect for the election outcome, while Bolsonaro claims political persecution.