Brazil ambassador’s US visa revoked, official says

The United States has revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador to Washington, a State Department official said Tuesday, in a new diplomatic dispute between the countries.

The official said Washington's decision stemmed from Brazil's delay in approving a new US ambassador. The official also said the visa cancellation does not mean Brazil's envoy is being expelled from the United States.

The dispute follows Brazil's denial of visas for two US officials who sought to meet election authorities last month. A Brazilian diplomatic source said those visas were denied because of the “risk of political exploitation.”

A US State Department spokesperson said at the time that the two officials wanted to visit Brasilia to discuss “election integrity, religious freedom and freedom of expression” with government officials, religious leaders and others. The spokesperson rejected any suggestion that the visit was intended to undermine Brazil's election.

Brazil's visa denial came after right-wing presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro renewed unfounded claims that the country's electronic voting system is insecure. US President Donald Trump has also continued to falsely claim that widespread fraud cost him the 2020 election.

Flavio Bolsonaro's father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, was barred by electoral authorities in 2023 from running for office after raising similar claims while in office. He was later convicted of plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election and is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest.