Bolsonaro Appeals Court Decision Barring Him From Attending Trump Inauguration in Brazil
Bolsonaro expressed deep disappointment to his millions of supporters in response to Brazil’s highest court barring him from attending U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court denied Bolsonaro’s request to temporarily retrieve his passport for the Jan. 20 ceremony in an announcement on Thursday.
Bolsonaro had his passport confiscated by federal police in February 2024 as part of an investigation into the 2023 protests against Brazil’s federal government. The protests were alleged to be part of a plot to overturn the 2022 presidential election results, which Bolsonaro narrowly lost to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The court’s decision followed a recommendation from Brazil’s attorney general, who argued that Bolsonaro’s presence at Trump’s inauguration was not in the public interest. De Moraes supported this view in his ruling.
The judge wrote, “It’s unnecessary to emphasize that the petitioner [Bolsonaro] does not hold an official role to represent Brazil at the U.S. ceremony.”
De Moraes also considered the possibility of Bolsonaro seeking political asylum during his trip, especially in Argentina, where President Javier Milei has expressed support for him.
The judge referenced Bolsonaro’s past comments where he suggested supporters feeling persecuted could seek asylum at foreign embassies. He also pointed out a post on X in October 2024 where Bolsonaro thanked Milei for supporting legislation that could aid the protesters as political refugees.
De Moraes emphasized that due to the severity of the accusations against Bolsonaro, he needed to remain in Brazil to face the legal proceedings.
Bolsonaro expressed his disappointment with the court’s ruling, stating it would not only let down his supporters but also damage Brazil’s international reputation.
Bolsonaro’s statement on X emphasized the significance of Trump’s invitation, portraying it as a symbol of the strong ties between the two democratic nations in the Americas. He criticized the decision to prevent his participation in the event, seeing it as detrimental to Brazil’s global standing and democracy.
Bolsonaro dismissed concerns about fleeing to Argentina, noting his return after attending Milei’s inauguration in 2023 with permission. He argued that the limitations imposed on him were unjust, denying millions of Brazilians representation on the international stage.
Bolsonaro has filed an appeal against the travel ban and indicated that his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, may represent him at the inauguration if the appeal is unsuccessful.
Eduardo Bolsonaro, a congressman speculated to run in Brazil’s 2026 presidential election, accused the authorities of using the legal system to target political opponents, labeling it as “lawfare.”
He wrote, “[They are] using the justice system as a weapon to crush political opponents in court because they are afraid to face them at the polls.”
