Trump says Bolsonaro can remain in US indefinitely, calls Brazil election a 'disgrace'

US President Donald Trump has said Brazilian politician Flavio Bolsonaro can remain in the United States for as long as he wishes, signalling that tensions between Washington and Brasilia could continue despite recent diplomatic contact between the two countries. Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters at a Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida on Saturday. He also questioned the outcome of Brazil's presidential election, in which Bolsonaro lost to incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. "He can stay here as long as he wants," Trump was qutoed as saying by news agency Reuters. "In my opinion, the election was a disgrace." Bolsonaro left Brazil after his electoral defeat, despite having led in several opinion polls. His departure came after a Brazilian Supreme Court justice ordered his passport revoked. He is also facing two federal money-laundering investigations, while police in Brazil had considered him a flight risk.

Bolsonaro entered the United States under humanitarian parole, Reuters had previously reported. The immigration status is generally granted for a limited period, typically one year. Trump's latest remarks suggest he is willing to let Bolsonaro remain in the country beyond that period. However, the US President said he had no plans to meet the Brazilian politician, who has described himself as Brazil's rightful leader. A US official and another person familiar with the matter told Reuters that Trump currently has no plans to support Bolsonaro's political ambitions, despite allowing him to enter the United States.

The comments came as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on the sidelines of a Group of 20 meeting in Atlanta on Saturday. Rubio said the two had spoken and were expected to meet again in France next month during a G7 foreign ministers' summit. Brazil is expected to attend the meeting as an observer. The diplomatic engagement had raised the possibility of improved relations between the two countries, even as Trump's comments on Bolsonaro pointed to continued political differences. Rubio also said the US government "was not involved directly in any of the moves" that led to Bolsonaro's departure from Brazil earlier this week. However, Reuters and other media organisations have reported that Jason Miller, a White House official, helped arrange the Brazilian politician's journey to the US.

Flavio Bolsonaro is the son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently in prison in Brazil for plotting a coup after losing his re-election bid in 2022. Lula, who defeated Jair Bolsonaro in that election, also has a history of legal troubles. He spent 17 months in prison in 2018 and 2019 on corruption charges, which were later annulled. The developments come amid continuing political tensions in Brazil and uncertainty over how Flavio Bolsonaro's presence in the US could affect relations between the two countries.