Milei Endorses Flávio Bolsonaro in São Paulo — Then Brazil Recalls Its Ambassador

Argentina's President Javier Milei and Brazil's right-wing presidential hopeful Flavio Bolsonaro wave during the launching of the latter's candidacy within the Liberal Party convention, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on July 25, 2026. Battered by a string of political crises, Flavio Bolsonaro launched his candidacy for Brazil's October presidential election, seeking to follow in the footsteps of his father, Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving house arrest for plotting a coup after losing the election in 2022. (Credit: Photo by Nelson ALMEIDA / AFP via Getty Images)

Javier Milei arrived in São Paulo the night before Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign launch, bypassing Brasília entirely as the Liberal Party made the Rio senator its nominee against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in October. Multiple outlets have called the appearance an uncommon move for a sitting foreign leader: showing up to headline a rival country's nominating convention for a candidate who was, at the time, still running behind in most surveys.

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