The whereabouts of defeated Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro remain unclear after Brazil cancelled his passports and Argentinian officials said he had boarded a flight to Ecuador, contradicting earlier reports from several mainstream media outlets that he had arrived in Florida.

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Argentinian migration authorities later said he had crossed Brazil’s land border with Argentina at 22:50 local time on Tuesday (01:50 GMT on Wednesday). In a tweet, the migration authorities said he, his wife and two daughters had boarded a private flight headed towards the city of Guayaquil in Ecuador at 23:30 (02:30 GMT on Wednesday). It is not clear whether Ecuador would be his final destination.

According to Metropoles, which had reported on his alleged arrival in the U.S. hours before, the legislator plans to hold a press conference in the United States this week, possibly in Washington.

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Flavio Bolsonaro’s departure from Brazil occurred after Supreme Federal Court (STF) Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered him to hand over his regular and diplomatic passports within 24 hours and barred him from leaving Brazil. After the deadline expired this Tuesday without him complying with the order, the Federal Police canceled the documents.

Amid the controversy, the U.S. Department of State confirmed to the outlet UOL that it will grant visas to Flávio and his family members, although it did not specify the category of the documents or the conditions of stay.

Democratic congressman Joaquín Castro said losing an election is not grounds for receiving asylum, and demanded explanations from President Donald Trump’s Government about its possible help to Flávio in leaving Brazil, noting that the lawmaker is under investigation in the South American nation for alleged corruption, money laundering and currency evasion. “The Trump administration owes Congress answers on its role helping Bolsonaro flee Brazil in contravention of Brazilian law,” he said.

Losing an election is not grounds for asylum.

Yet the Trump Administration is giving Flávio Bolsonaro safe haven in the United States. In Brazil, he is under investigation for alleged corruption, money laundering and currency evasion, and was ordered to surrender his passports.…

— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) October 27, 2026

Brazilian media reported that the lawmaker’s flight also surprised leaders of his Liberal Party and raised questions about his next political steps. Flávio had previously stated that he would remain in Brazil to organize the opposition to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s Government.

The trip took place after the electoral defeat he suffered against Lula in the presidential runoff on October 25.

For the Trump administration, which has sought to reassert its dominance in the region, Lula’s victory complicates its campaign to enlist Brazil in its military coalition

For the Trump administration, which has sought to reassert its dominance in the region, Lula’s victory complicates its campaign to enlist Brazil in its military coalition

Voting in Brazil is conducted electronically and the result is usually available within hours after polling stations close at 5 p.m. in Brasilia.

Voting in Brazil is conducted electronically and the result is usually available within hours after polling stations close at 5 p.m. in Brasilia.