He used to lead the largest country in Latin America and 214 million people. Now the former far-right leader of Brazil lives in a small Florida town and eats alone in fast food restaurants.
Bolsonaro, 67, has found an unusual refuge in the United States, where he arrived in late December, days before supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia in an attempt to overturn the election victory of his rival, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
At home, Bolsonaro is being investigated over allegations of involvement in the riots, which he denies.
From the luxurious presidential palace, Bolsonaro, the political soulmate of former US president Donald Trump, continues to live in a small community of almost identical houses near the Disney World resort.
In his first six weeks in the United States, Bolsonaro has remained low-key, staying at the Orlando home of former Brazilian martial arts champion Jose Aldo, traveling to a local supermarket and being photographed eating fried chicken by himself at a KFC fast-food restaurant.
On Friday, the man who until now ruled the masses in his country, spoke to about 400 supporters during an event organized by the American conservative organization Turning Point USA at the Trump National hotel in the city of Doral, near Miami.
It is unclear whether Trump himself was involved in organizing the event.
– ‘More popular than ever’ –
The meeting had the vibe of an election meeting. Bolsonaro spoke passionately about doing his job in his country – unless the so-called ‘Trump of the Tropics’ is in Florida, a few thousand miles (kilometers) away from his country.
“There is no greater satisfaction than completing a task,” Bolsonaro said of the presidency. He spoke before the audience wearing elegant suits and shirts as well as the yellow and green jerseys of the Brazilian soccer team.
Three days earlier, Bolsonaro spoke in the ballroom of a mall restaurant in Orlando at an event brought together by the Brazilian expatriate community in Florida.
Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly cast doubt on Lula’s narrow victory in the October 30 round, again questioned the electoral defeat, calling himself “more popular than ever.”
“Many people are still shaken by what happened in the election… But we will face this time and, God willing, we will win together,” he said.
But Bolsonaro added that he regretted “what some inconsistent people did” during the unrest.
The crowd was welcome in both Florida events, with supporters hugging and taking selfies with him and cheering him on.
– What’s next? –
Bolsonaro faces an uncertain future.
After publicly announcing his intention to return to Brazil at the end of January, Bolsonaro earlier this week applied for a new visa to stay in the United States for another six months.
And one of his sons, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, suggested last week that the former president did not have a return date.
“It may be tomorrow, or six months from now, or it may never come back,” he told reporters.
On Tuesday, at an Orlando restaurant, Bolsonaro promised to “remain active in Brazilian politics.” He was not elaborate.
It remains to be seen whether Bolsonaro keeps a low profile or whether he tries to raise his profile in the United States.
“I have been a great admirer of the American people – freedom, patriotism and love of the flag,” he said at the meeting on Friday.