Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has posted a photo he says shows him meeting US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, accompanied by a thumbs-up emoji, seeking to bolster his image as his campaign in Brazil reels from a crisis.
Flavio is the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a right-wing ally of Trump now serving a 27-year prison sentence for involvement in a coup plot after losing the 2022 re-election to leftist incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The younger Bolsonaro has stepped in to lead Brazil's right flank and is widely seen as the strongest challenger to Lula in the October election.
However, his campaign hit a snag after reports emerged that he sought a campaign contribution from a banker previously convicted of fraud to fund a film about his father. Bolsonaro admitted asking for the money but denied any wrongdoing.
Recent polls show the scandal has eroded his support, with Lula regaining a lead after earlier surveys suggested the two were running neck-and-neck.
According to media reports, Flavio Bolsonaro sought a meeting with President Trump, who had previously imposed tariffs on Brazil to pressure for the dismissal of charges against the former President Bolsonaro. Flavio then traveled to Washington without a confirmed appointment, hoping to see Trump. Trump has not commented on the meeting on his social media platform.
Meanwhile, relations between Trump and Lula remain tense, though the two leaders have built a more cordial rapport in recent months. Lula visited the White House earlier this month to negotiate trade tariffs.
