Brazilian Court Blocks Jair Bolsonaro’s Bid to Attend Trump’s Inauguration

SAO PAULO — On Thursday, Brazil’s Supreme Court has rejected a request from former President Jair Bolsonaro to temporarily reinstate his passport, which would allow him to participate in the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump next week in Washington.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes, whom Bolsonaro often considers his adversary, stated in the decision that Bolsonaro does not currently hold any title that would permit him to represent Brazil at the function and that he failed to sufficiently demonstrate to the court that he had received an invitation.

B Bolsonaro, who is under multiple extensive investigations, including one regarding an alleged effort to remain in power despite his electoral loss, had his passport confiscated by federal authorities in February due to being labeled a flight risk. He refutes the accusations against him.

Following the ruling on Thursday, Bolsonaro took to X to allege that Brazil’s judicial system is engaging in political persecution against him, likening his ordeal to legal challenges faced by Trump in the US. He remarked that Trump “overcame judicial activism. I too will prevail.”

The former Brazilian leader sought authorization to exit the country from January 17 to 22 to partake in the inauguration ceremony on January 20 and an inaugural ball for Hispanic attendees. Bolsonaro, a vociferous admirer of Trump, expressed on social media on January 8 that he was “very pleased with this invitation.”

“I’ll be representing the conservative values, the right-wing ideals, the good, the Brazilian populace there in the United States, if God permits,” Bolsonaro stated.

When de Moraes requested evidence of his invitation from Bolsonaro’s legal team on Saturday, they submitted an invitation letter signed by inauguration committee co-chairs Steve Witkoff and Kelly Loeffler.

However, de Moraes contended that Bolsonaro had not sufficiently demonstrated his invitation to the inauguration. In the verdict, de Moraes adhered to the suggestion of Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who indicated on Wednesday that Bolsonaro’s personal interest in the journey did not surpass the public interest in preventing him from traveling internationally.

De Moraes maintained that Bolsonaro continues to be a flight risk and noted that the former president has encouraged his supporters facing legal issues linked to their political affiliations to leave the nation and seek asylum elsewhere. Numerous supporters of Bolsonaro involved in the January 8, 2023, riots in Brasilia have departed Brazil to evade legal action.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will not be present at Trump’s inauguration.

Federal authorities confiscated Bolsonaro’s passport in February 2024, during a raid connected to the inquiry into whether he and senior aides conspired to disregard the results of the 2022 election and orchestrate an insurrection to retain power for the defeated right-wing leader.

Previously, Brazil’s Supreme Court denied Bolsonaro’s previous passport retrieval request in March 2024, following an invitation from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In November, federal authorities formally charged Bolsonaro and 36 others, including senior military officials, with attempting a coup. Prosecutor-General Gonet will determine whether to formally indict Bolsonaro or dismiss the investigation.

Legal analysts assert that Bolsonaro faces potential charges and could be tried in the latter half of 2025 at the Supreme Court over purportedly falsifying his COVID-19 vaccination status. Observers also indicate there is a realistic possibility he may stand trial prior to 2026 regarding accusations of misappropriating jewelry gifted by Saudi Arabian officials.

The former president denies any allegations regarding efforts to remain in power following his narrow electoral loss to leftist opponent Lula in 2022.

Brazilian ambassador to the US, Maria Luiza Viotti, will attend Trump’s inauguration, the government informed The Associated Press on Thursday. President Lula did not receive an official invitation to the event.

Trump has invited various world leaders to his inauguration, including China’s President Xi Jinping and Argentina’s President Javier Milei.