Flávio Bolsonaro heads to Washington for prospective meeting with Donald Trump

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL‑RJ), a pre‑candidate for Brazil’s 2026 presidential election, departed from Guarulhos on the night of May 24 for Washington. Allies say the trip is aimed at securing a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, May 26, with the invitation allegedly coming from the White House and channeled through Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his brother Eduardo Bolsonaro, who lives in the United States.

The meeting has not been officially confirmed by the White House. Bolsonaro hopes the encounter will help revive his campaign after a scandal involving audio recordings of his contact with banker Daniel Vorcaro of Banco Master, which has hurt his poll numbers. He is expected to discuss topics such as the classification of Brazil’s PCC and CV criminal groups as terrorist organizations and the protection of freedom of expression on social media.

Brazil’s Lula administration regards the trip as a low‑impact personal initiative and says no diplomatic response is forthcoming. Recent Datafolha polls show Lula widening his lead over Bolsonaro, with the senator’s first‑round support falling from about 35 % to 31 %. The Washington visit is seen as an attempt to shift the narrative ahead of the election.