Brazil’s political landscape was rocked this weekend by the dramatic arrest of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who was taken into custody by federal police in Brasilia on Saturday, November 23, 2025. The move came after Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes deemed Bolsonaro a high flight risk following a failed attempt to disable his court-ordered ankle monitor. The 70-year-old ex-leader, who has been under house arrest since August, now faces the prospect of beginning a 27-year prison sentence for his role in a foiled coup plot after the contentious 2022 election.
The arrest unfolded in the early hours, with federal agents entering Bolsonaro’s upscale condominium in the nation’s capital. According to the Associated Press and France 24, the Supreme Court’s decision was triggered by evidence that Bolsonaro had used a soldering iron on his ankle monitor. In a video released by the court, Bolsonaro admitted, “I used a soldering iron on the bracelet out of curiosity.” The device was shown badly damaged and burned, though still attached to his ankle. His lawyers, however, insisted no such tampering had occurred and argued the device was functioning normally as of Saturday morning.
Justice de Moraes described the incident as a clear indication that Bolsonaro intended to escape, especially in light of a protest vigil organized by his eldest son, Flavio Bolsonaro, for later that day. Flavio, in a video message, rallied supporters to gather outside his father’s residence, asking, “Are you going to fight for your country or are you going to watch it all from your cellphone in your home’s sofa? I invite you to fight with us.” The judge noted this demonstration could create confusion and provide cover for an escape attempt, writing in his ruling that the disabling of the monitor was part of a plan to “ensure the success of his escape, facilitated by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his son.”
De Moraes also highlighted the proximity of Bolsonaro’s home to the U.S. Embassy—just 13 kilometers, or a 15-minute drive—raising the possibility that the former president might seek political asylum. The threat of flight was further underscored by messages unearthed by federal police in August, which linked Bolsonaro to a potential asylum request in Argentina, where his political ally Javier Milei is president.
Bolsonaro’s legal team has pushed back hard, characterizing the arrest as “deeply perplexing” and maintaining that the vigil was merely for prayer, not a protest. They have also appealed for Bolsonaro to be allowed to serve his sentence under house arrest, citing his frail health. The former president has suffered lingering effects from a 2018 stabbing attack, requiring multiple surgeries and hospitalizations. “The detention could put his life at risk,” his lawyers warned, referencing his ongoing medical issues.
The Supreme Court, however, was unswayed. The panel of five justices, which had convicted Bolsonaro by a 4-1 vote in September, is set to review the preemptive arrest on Monday, November 24. During the September trial, Bolsonaro was found guilty of leading an armed criminal organization and attempting the violent abolition of Brazil’s democratic rule of law. Prosecutors detailed a plot that included plans to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Justice de Moraes himself. Bolsonaro has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Public reaction to the arrest was swift and polarized. Outside the federal police headquarters in Brasilia, a small crowd of supporters draped in Brazil’s green and yellow flag gathered in protest, while detractors celebrated. Some even uncorked bottles of sparkling wine, as reported by AFP. Ana Denise Sousa, a high school philosophy teacher, voiced the sentiments of many critics: “The biggest scoundrel, the worst guy...who screwed everyone over, who (attempted) a coup, who never felt pity for anyone – and now he’s going to pay.” Meanwhile, Bolsonaro’s allies remained defiant. Fabio Wajngarten, his former press adviser and lawyer, called the arrest “a terrible stain on the institutions” and questioned the official account of the monitor’s tampering: “How could something that was broken, violated, be functioning normally nine hours later?” Sóstenes Cavalcante, Bolsonaro’s party whip in the lower house, accused de Moraes of “psychopathy at the highest level,” vowing, “We will always stand by your side. Stay strong.”
Bolsonaro’s family also weighed in. Flavio Bolsonaro, in a live video, directed blame at Justice de Moraes: “If something happens to my father, Alexandre de Moraes, if my father dies in there, it’s your fault.” Michelle Bolsonaro, the former first lady, posted on Instagram that supporters “will not give up on our nation.”
The political implications of the arrest are profound. Bolsonaro’s conviction and detention have left Brazil’s large conservative electorate without a clear standard-bearer ahead of the 2026 presidential elections, in which Lula, now 80, has announced plans to seek a fourth term. Political analyst Creomar de Souza told the Associated Press that the episode could transform Bolsonaro into a martyr figure, potentially energizing his base and turning the next election into a referendum on his legacy. “They had the idea of turning the 2026 election into a referendum on Bolsonaro. And for that to happen they needed actions, they needed to build an optics of Bolsonaro as a martyr and an impactful popular leader,” de Souza explained. “At the end of the day, this shows the Bolsonaro family they will need to build their own alternative for the 2026 elections.”
Internationally, the saga has drawn the attention of Bolsonaro’s allies, most notably former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has characterized the Brazilian trial as a “witch hunt.” Trump, who reportedly spoke with Bolsonaro on the night of November 21, said he would meet with him “in the very near future.” When asked about the arrest, Trump commented, “That’s too bad,” while also noting he was unaware of the details.
The Supreme Court’s actions have not been without controversy. Justice de Moraes, the central figure in the prosecution, has himself been sanctioned by the Trump administration, a move that has only added fuel to the fire for Bolsonaro’s supporters, who view the proceedings as politically motivated. De Moraes, for his part, has condemned the Bolsonaros’ tactics as “pathetic illegal initiatives,” arguing that their efforts to organize protests and challenge court orders show “there’s no limits for the criminal organization in its attempt to create chaos and conflict in this country, in a total disrespect to democracy.”
As Bolsonaro awaits the next phase of his legal battle from a federal police complex—reportedly housed in a small room with a television, air conditioning, and a mini-fridge—the nation remains deeply divided. The coming days are likely to see more demonstrations, legal maneuvers, and political maneuvering as Brazil grapples with the fallout of an unprecedented chapter in its democratic history.
For now, the fate of one of Brazil’s most polarizing figures hangs in the balance, with the Supreme Court’s final decision and the country’s political future both very much up in the air.
