The U.S. government is granting visas to Flávio Bolsonaro and his family following his defeat in Brazil’s presidential election, a senior Trump administration official tells Axios.

Why it matters: The move comes days after Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, in a closely watched election.

Driving the news: Following the election, Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered Bolsonaro on Monday to surrender his passports and barred him from leaving the country.

• The order relates to an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering. Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing.
• Trump administration officials said they would not comment further until the Bolsonaro family is safely in the U.S.

The big picture: President Trump and his administration have repeatedly backed the Bolsonaro family, with the president denouncing the prosecution of the elder Bolsonaro as a “witch hunt.”

• Jair Bolsonaro was convicted last year by Brazil’s Supreme Court of plotting a coup to overturn the 2022 election and was sentenced to 27 years in prison, though he remains under house arrest due to health problems.
• Trump’s administration has targeted Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the prosecution, with visa restrictions and, separately, sanctions that were later lifted.
• The Trump administration also imposed steep tariffs on Brazilian imports in 2025, escalating tensions between Washington and Brasília.

Go deeper: Brazil’s election ignites MAGA’s midterm warnings

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional information throughout.