Trump Declines to Back Flávio Bolsonaro's Claim to Be Brazil's President

President Donald Trump declined on Wednesday to back Flávio Bolsonaro's claim to be Brazil's "rightful president," saying he would stay out of the dispute over the country's election.

He did not drop his doubts about the vote. "It was a very strange election, that's for sure," Trump told reporters.

Trump Stays Out, With a Caveat

Trump was asked at a press gaggle whether he agreed that Bolsonaro was Brazil's rightful president. "I'm not going to make a comment about that," he replied.

"I won't get involved," he added.

The exchange came late Wednesday afternoon in the U.S., before Trump flew to Ohio to campaign, according to Bloomberg's Jennifer Jacobs. Pool video was distributed via Reuters.

Transcripts of the full exchange reportedly show Trump also saying the U.S. had given Bolsonaro "a pass" to enter the country. Trump said he had not spoken to Bolsonaro, and that the Bolsonaro family had been treated very unfairly.

Bolsonaro's Claim

Bolsonaro, a 45-year-old senator, made his claim in a statement distributed by an ally, Paulo Figueiredo, after he arrived in Miami on Wednesday. "I address the Brazilian people and the international community as the true elected president of Brazil," he said.

He alleged electoral fraud and said he would lead the opposition from the U.S. He provided no evidence of fraud.

The BBC reported that he also cast himself as the "leader" of Brazil. Bolsonaro reportedly replaced the first version of the statement with an edited one that dropped the president-elect language.

His Liberal Party recognized Lula's victory on Monday, although Bolsonaro himself had not formally conceded.

The Election and Its Aftermath

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the Oct. 25 runoff with about 51.8% of the vote to Bolsonaro's 48.2%. It is the incumbent's fourth term.

Brazil's Supreme Court extended voting by two hours on election day after transport disruptions. Bolsonaro said the rules had been changed "in the middle of the game."

Trump has voiced doubts about the result before. On Monday he said the election "looked like another rigged election, frankly," while adding "I didn't take sides." He offered no evidence.

Earlier on Wednesday he said he would approve of Bolsonaro entering the U.S. and called the election "very strange" and "terrible."

Why Bolsonaro Left Brazil

Bolsonaro left Brazil through Argentina after failing to surrender his passports, as ordered by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes in a money-laundering investigation. He denies wrongdoing.

The U.S. State Department said it would issue visas to him and his family. Lula called the departure "shameful."

A Brazilian government response to Trump's latest remarks was not immediately available. Figueiredo said Bolsonaro would hold a press conference in Miami on Thursday.