Flávio Bolsonaro turns to Trump as Brazil probe deepens
Flávio Bolsonaro travelled to Washington on May 26 for a private meeting with US President Donald Trump, seeking to shore up his political standing ahead of Brazil's October presidential election as a financial scandal involving a jailed banker threatened to erode his chances of reaching the Palácio do Planalto.
A White House official confirmed the encounter, which did not appear on Trump's public schedule.
The visit came as Flávio's campaign absorbed a significant polling blow. An AtlasIntel/Bloomberg survey of 5,032 people conducted between May 13 and 18 put President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead by 48.9% to 41.8% in a second-round runoff scenario — a swing of roughly seven percentage points from an April poll that had Flávio narrowly ahead at 47.8% to Lula's 47.5%. In a first-round scenario, the seasoned leftist leader led with 47% against Flávio's 34.3%. The poll carries a margin of error of one percentage point.
The shift followed reports by investigative outlet The Intercept Brasil, based on leaked messages from a federal police probe, alleging that Flávio had negotiated a commitment of up to BRL134mn ($26.85mn) from Daniel Vorcaro, former owner of Banco Master, to finance a biographical film about his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro. Earlier reporting cited the figure at BRL60mn ($12mn). Federal investigators estimate that the alleged fraud linked to Banco Master reached BRL12bn ($2.3bn).
Vorcaro has been in custody since March, accused of attempting to bribe a former central bank director, a charge he denies. His attorney declined to comment.
Flávio, a son of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro — barred from running for office after being convicted of plotting a coup following his 2022 election defeat — has denied any wrongdoing, acknowledging that Vorcaro had agreed to finance the film but describing the arrangement as a private sponsorship with no favours exchanged. His campaign communications chief has since resigned, amid what the financial newspaper Valor described as a crisis for the senator's pre-campaign.
Despite the turbulence, conservative allies sought to project calm. "Moments like this deserve our attention. He needs to make it all clear," said Senator Marcos Rogério, speaking at the Esfera forum in São Paulo state. "This thing will not bar his candidacy at all." According to AP, political analyst Lula Guimarães argued the timing of the revelations mattered, suggesting the damage would have been greater had the allegations emerged closer to election day.
After the White House meeting, Flávio posted on Instagram that Trump had presented him with a "challenge coin,” a medallion traditionally associated with the US armed forces, describing it as a "rare gesture, reserved for allies." He was dismissive when asked about the polling figures. "A crisis of what? This is an election campaign. It has its ups and downs," he said.
Flávio Bolsonaro travelled to Washington on May 26 for a private meeting with US President Donald Trump, seeking to shore up his political standing ahead of Brazil's October presidential election as a financial scandal involving a jailed banker threatened to erode his chances of reaching the Palácio do Planalto.
A White House official confirmed the encounter, which did not appear on Trump's public schedule.
The visit came as Flávio's campaign absorbed a significant polling blow. An AtlasIntel/Bloomberg survey of 5,032 people conducted between May 13 and 18 put President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead by 48.9% to 41.8% in a second-round runoff scenario — a swing of roughly seven percentage points from an April poll that had Flávio narrowly ahead at 47.8% to Lula's 47.5%. In a first-round scenario, the seasoned leftist leader led with 47% against Flávio's 34.3%. The poll carries a margin of error of one percentage point.
The shift followed reports by investigative outlet The Intercept Brasil, based on leaked messages from a federal police probe, alleging that Flávio had negotiated a commitment of up to BRL134mn ($26.85mn) from Daniel Vorcaro, former owner of Banco Master, to finance a biographical film about his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro. Earlier reporting cited the figure at BRL60mn ($12mn). Federal investigators estimate that the alleged fraud linked to Banco Master reached BRL12bn ($2.3bn).
Vorcaro has been in custody since March, accused of attempting to bribe a former central bank director, a charge he denies. His attorney declined to comment.
Flávio, a son of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro — barred from running for office after being convicted of plotting a coup following his 2022 election defeat — has denied any wrongdoing, acknowledging that Vorcaro had agreed to finance the film but describing the arrangement as a private sponsorship with no favours exchanged. His campaign communications chief has since resigned, amid what the financial newspaper Valor described as a crisis for the senator's pre-campaign.
Despite the turbulence, conservative allies sought to project calm. "Moments like this deserve our attention. He needs to make it all clear," said Senator Marcos Rogério, speaking at the Esfera forum in São Paulo state. "This thing will not bar his candidacy at all." According to AP, political analyst Lula Guimarães argued the timing of the revelations mattered, suggesting the damage would have been greater had the allegations emerged closer to election day.
After the White House meeting, Flávio posted on Instagram that Trump had presented him with a "challenge coin,” a medallion traditionally associated with the US armed forces, describing it as a "rare gesture, reserved for allies." He was dismissive when asked about the polling figures. "A crisis of what? This is an election campaign. It has its ups and downs," he said.
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