Trump Says Bolsonaro Will Get U.S. Visa, But No Date Set
The announcement follows the former Brazilian president's conviction in a military court on July 30.
By Emmanuel Obasi ·
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States would issue visas to former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his family, though he did not give a date for when the paperwork would be completed or whether they would be allowed to remain long term. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump called Bolsonaro 'a friend of mine' and said the former leader was being persecuted by Brazil's court system.
The timeline begins on July 30, when a military court convicted Bolsonaro and sentenced him to 27 years in prison for offenses including undermining democratic institutions. Bolsonaro has been under house arrest in Brasilia since August 2025. He has denied wrongdoing. A court ruling released his electronic passport on October 17.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the proceedings in Brazil. He said in his remarks that the prosecution was 'a terrible thing' and suggested the case was connected to the 2022 Brazilian election. Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has said the investigation concerned Bolsonaro's conduct in office.
The U.S. government revoked Bolsonaro's visa in August 2025 and denied him entry to the country. The status of that decision was not addressed by the White House. Trump did not say whether the new visas would permit the family to stay in the United States.
Bolsonaro left the presidential palace in Brasilia on August 14, 2025, and moved into a home in a gated community in the capital. He is barred from leaving the country and cannot hold public office until 2030. His term as president ended December 31, 2022, and he did not run in the October 2025 election.
The announcement came as Brazil's president, Luiz Inácio Lira da Silva, met with Trump in Washington. The two leaders discussed trade and regional security issues. Bolsonaro's sons have also traveled to the United States this month to meet with administration officials.
The case remains under appeal in Brazil's courts. Bolsonaro's lawyers have asked the Supreme Court to review the military court's conviction and sentence.
Source: Cascade PBS
