United States (US) President Donald Trump said that the defeated Brazilian presidential candidate, Flavio Bolsonaro, can stay in the US as long as he wants.
Speaking to reporters at a Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago, Florida, residence, Trump said he had no plans to meet with Bolsonaro, who arrived in Miami last week.
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"There's no plan to meet, but I think he's being treated very badly. Very badly. So, he can stay here as long as he wants," Trump said.
When asked if he had spoken with Bolsonaro, Trump did not give a direct answer, but reiterated his support for the former presidential candidate.
“I think the election was a disgrace,” he added.
Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, lost the second round of last week's presidential election to incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Following the defeat, he left Brazil despite a court order requiring him to surrender his passport as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering and financial misconduct.
Brazilian authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, including the possibility of assistance from foreign officials to facilitate the trip.
Temporary residence permit in the US
Bolsonaro entered the US through a discretionary parole mechanism , a temporary immigration permit that allows someone to stay in the country until October 2027. Brazilian media reported the information citing records from the US Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP).
The permit does not grant permanent immigration status.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that Washington was not directly involved in arranging Bolsonaro's departure from Brazil.
Trump's remarks come amid diplomatic tensions between Washington and Brasilia. Brazilian officials have demanded an explanation of the circumstances surrounding Bolsonaro's visit to the US.
International election observers have declared the results of Brazil's presidential election credible.
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