US President Donald Trump has said that Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro can stay in the United States as long as he wants, after he left Brazil following his defeat in the presidential election against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Trump's statement came during a conversation with reporters at his residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. The White House chief of staff said he had not planned to meet with the Brazilian senator, but expressed support for him, criticizing the electoral process in Brazil.
"I have no plans to meet with him, but I think he's been treated very badly. He can stay here as long as he wants," Trump declared, adding that, according to him, the elections in Brazil were a disgrace.
Flavio Bolsonaro arrived in the United States after losing the second round of the presidential election to Lula, who secured a new term at the head of the country. The senator contested the result and raised allegations of electoral fraud, but these accusations have been rejected by the relevant institutions. International observers have described the electoral process as free and fair.
His departure from Brazil came after judicial authorities ordered the surrender of his passports as part of investigations into money laundering and other financial matters. According to reports, Bolsonaro was admitted to the US through a temporary humanitarian authorization, which does not guarantee permanent residence.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington had no direct involvement in the senator's expulsion from Brazil. Rubio also said he had held talks with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Atlanta, and the two sides are expected to meet again at a future G7 summit.
