A Brazilian senator running for president is working to arrange a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation, as his campaign struggles with fallout from a banking scandal.
Sources indicate that Senator Flavio Bolsonaro may travel to the United States on Monday for a White House meeting with Trump next week. While one source confirmed an invitation from the White House, the exact timing remains unclear.
The right-wing senator, who is the oldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has not responded through his spokesperson regarding the potential visit.
The Washington trip is being planned while the senator’s presidential campaign deals with a major controversy that has hurt his standing in polls against the current leftist president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, with October elections approaching.
Earlier this month, the senator became connected to a major bank fraud case after acknowledging he had arranged millions in financing for a documentary about his father from Daniel Vorcaro, a banker currently imprisoned on charges of bribing government officials and cheating investors.
The senator has maintained that his discussions with the banker involved only a legitimate private investment deal without any wrongdoing or special treatment. He had earlier stated he had no dealings with the banker.
During this week, the senator visited Sao Paulo to meet with business executives who are becoming more concerned about his ability to defeat Lula in the upcoming election.
He also conducted meetings with top campaign staff members and made changes to his communications leadership.
