Flavio Bolsonaro launched his presidential campaign on Saturday, emphasizing endorsements from Argentina's Javier Milei and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu while framing the race as an existential fight. The event drew few leading Brazilian politicians, and polls show Flavio trailing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Critics have flagged attempts to involve Trump-era contacts and repeated claims about voting systems as concerning. Brazil also denied visas to two Trump administration officials seeking meetings with election authorities.
Flavio Bolsonaro Launches Presidential Bid With Praise From Netanyahu and Milei, Faces Early Headwinds
Argentina’s President Javier Milei holds a national football jersey next to Brazilian right-wing presidential hopeful Flavio Bolsonaro, who holds a national flag during the launch of his candidacy at the Liberal Party convention in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on July 25, 2026 [Nelson Almeida/AFP]
Flavio Bolsonaro formally opened his campaign for Brazil's presidency on Saturday, positioning himself as the right's challenger to incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva while highlighting public endorsements from Argentina's Javier Milei and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu.
Event and International Endorsements
The convention, organized by the Liberal Party, featured video and in-person messages from prominent right-wing figures. Argentinian President Javier Milei flew into Brazil to deliver a fiery address denouncing Lula's policies and saying Bolsonaro could "save" Brazil from socialism. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered a short recorded message praising Flavio and the ties between the two countries.
"This is the beginning of the toughest battles of our life. A fight between good and evil,"Flavio told supporters, framing the campaign in stark, ideological terms.
Domestic Reception and Political Challenges
Despite the high-profile international attention, few leading Brazilian politicians attended the convention. Centrist and centre-right parties have largely kept their distance, and recent opinion polls place Flavio significantly behind President Lula. His campaign has struggled to regain momentum after several reported setbacks and scandals.
Former president Jair Bolsonaro — Flavio's father, who is reported to be serving a 27-year prison sentence related to an attempted coup after the 2022 election — appeared at the event only via an AI-generated video, a move that drew mixed reactions.
Controversies: Foreign Ties and Election Integrity
Critics say Flavio Bolsonaro and his allies have attempted to leverage ties to the administration of former US President Donald Trump to boost the campaign, actions some Brazilians view as unwelcome foreign interference. Concerns have also been raised about Flavio repeating unfounded claims regarding the reliability of Brazil's voting systems — rhetoric some observers see as setting the stage to contest election results if he loses.
The AFP reported that Brazil denied visas to two Trump administration officials who had sought to meet with the country's election authorities to discuss "freedom of expression related to the elections," a decision that further underscored sensitivity around outside involvement.
What Comes Next
Lula's Workers' Party is scheduled to hold its own convention on August 2, where the 80-year-old president is expected to confirm his re-election bid. The coming weeks are likely to see intensified campaigning and debate over election oversight and foreign involvement as both sides prepare for a high-stakes contest.
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