Major Controversies Surrounding Jair Bolsonaro: A Detailed Timeline
Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Jair Bolsonaro.
Jair Messias Bolsonaro is a Brazilian politician and former military officer who served as the 38th president of Brazil from 2019 to 2023. Prior to his presidency, he was a member of the Chamber of Deputies for nearly three decades, from 1991 to 2019. His political career has been marked by conservative and nationalist views.
2 hours ago : Jair Bolsonaro arrested after allegedly attempting to remove ankle monitor: Police
Jair Bolsonaro was arrested by the Federal Police after allegedly trying to remove his ankle monitor, according to Justice Moraes's decision. The arrest took place in Brasília.
1964: Brazilian military dictatorship starts
Throughout his political career, Bolsonaro has made several admiring comments about the Brazilian military dictatorship, which ruled the country from 1964 to 1985.
1985: Brazilian military dictatorship ends
Throughout his political career, Bolsonaro has made several admiring comments about the Brazilian military dictatorship, which ruled the country from 1964 to 1985.
October 1987: Accusation of planning to plant bombs
In October 1987, Bolsonaro faced accusations reported by Veja, alleging plans to plant bombs in military units in Rio de Janeiro. Sketches were published in the magazine's next issue, detailing the alleged plan.
1988: The Constitution of Brazil of 1988 bans the death penalty
Throughout his long political career, Bolsonaro expressed views regarded as being far-right. Other controversial political stances expressed by Bolsonaro have been the defence of the death penalty, which is banned under the Constitution of Brazil of 1988
1993: Bolsonaro comments on military regime
In 1993, eight years after the return of democracy, Bolsonaro said that the military regime had 'led to a more sustainable and prosperous Brazil'.
1998: Praised Pinochet Regime
In 1998, during an interview with Veja magazine, Bolsonaro praised Augusto Pinochet's Chilean dictatorship, stating that the regime, responsible for the deaths of over 3,000 Chilean citizens, "should have killed more people."
1999: Statements in Favor of Torture
In 1999, Bolsonaro declared himself in favor of torture in certain situations, such as when questioning someone about the whereabouts of a kidnapped child, advocating for brutal measures.
1999: Bolsonaro's comments on Hugo Chávez
In 1999, Bolsonaro stated that Hugo Chávez represented "hope for Latin America," a statement that later became controversial during his 2018 campaign.
1999: Endorsement of Political Violence
In 1999, Bolsonaro, then a representative in the Brazilian Congress, stated in a TV interview that the only way to change Brazil was by killing thirty thousand people, beginning with then-President Fernando Henrique Cardoso.
May 2002: Bolsonaro's comments on gay people
In May 2002, after then-President Fernando Henrique Cardoso attended a pro-gay-marriage gathering, Bolsonaro said, "If I see two men kissing in the street, I will beat them." He later publicly defended beating gay children.
July 2008: Remarks on Birth Control
In July 2008, Bolsonaro provoked controversy by suggesting providing poor people with birth control methods, implying they might be too uneducated for family planning education.
December 2008: Bolsonaro defends dictatorship
In December 2008, Bolsonaro said that 'the error of the dictatorship was that it tortured, but did not kill'.
June 2011: Comments on gay people
In a June 2011 interview with Playboy, Bolsonaro said, "I would be incapable of loving a gay son", and added that he would prefer any gay son of his "to die in an accident".
2011: Hate Speech on TV
In 2011, Bolsonaro made comments on the Custe o Que Custar television program implying that his children could not be homosexual due to their good education. These comments were later cited in a 2017 court case where he was fined for hate speech.
2011: Criticism of Affirmative Action
In 2011, Bolsonaro was accused of racism after questioning the capabilities of Black and indigenous graduates who benefited from affirmative action, expressing reluctance to fly on an airplane piloted by one of them or be operated on by a doctor admitted through racial quotas.
2011: Racist Statements on TV Show
In 2011, during an appearance on the TV show Custe o Que Custar (CQC), Bolsonaro made controversial remarks about race when asked what he would do if one of his sons had a black girlfriend. He later claimed he was misunderstood and denied promoting racism.
2013: Bolsonaro's comments in Stephen Fry's documentary
In the British actor Stephen Fry's 2013 documentary Out There, Bolsonaro said, "no father is ever proud of having a gay son" and "we Brazilians do not like homosexuals".
September 2015: Convicted of hedonic damages against Maria do Rosário
In September 2015, Bolsonaro was tried and convicted in a Federal court on counts of hedonic damages against Maria do Rosário, following his controversial remarks about her.
2015: Men and women salaries
In an interview with Zero Hora in 2015, Bolsonaro argued that men and women should not receive the same salaries, because women get pregnant, adding that he believes federal law mandating paid maternity leave harms work productivity.
March 2016: Interview with Elliot Page
In March 2016, during an interview with Elliot Page for Vice, Bolsonaro responded to a question about whether gay children should be beaten by making comments about Page's attractiveness and later stating that homosexuality had increased due to liberal habits and working women.
June 2016: Criminal actions opened against Bolsonaro
In June 2016, the Federal Supreme Court responded to a complaint filed by the Attorney General and decided to open two criminal actions against Bolsonaro, ruling that he had potentially incited rape and defamed the honour of his fellow Deputy.
April 2017: Daughter out of a moment of weakness
In a public speech in April 2017, Bolsonaro said he had five children, that the first four were male and that for the fifth he produced a daughter out of "a moment of weakness".
August 2017: Sentenced to pay a fine to Rosário
In August 2017, an appellate court upheld a lower court's verdict which found Bolsonaro guilty and sentenced him to pay a fine to Rosário of R$10,000.
November 2017: Sentenced for Hate Speech
In November 2017, the Court of Justice for the State of Rio de Janeiro sentenced Bolsonaro to pay a fine of R$150,000 for hate speech related to comments he made on television in 2011. The judge stated that Bolsonaro abused his right to free expression by attacking and humiliating others.
2017: Promises to Abolish Indigenous Territories
In 2017, at an event at the Hebraica club in Rio de Janeiro, Bolsonaro promised to abolish all indigenous and Quilombola territories in Brazil, accusing Afro-Brazilians of being lazy and unproductive and making dehumanizing comments about their weight.
2017: God above everything
In a 2017 speech, Bolsonaro stated, "God above everything. There is no such thing as a secular state. The state is Christian, and any minority that is against this has to change, if they can."
2017: Government enforcement actions decreased
In the first half of 2018, Government enforcement actions such as fines, warnings and the confiscation or destruction of illegal equipment in protected areas decreased by 20% compared to the first half of 2017.
October 2018: First round of election and controversial speech
On October 7, 2018, Bolsonaro finished first in the first round of the election with 46% of the vote, leading to a runoff against Haddad. After the first round, he gave a controversial speech threatening political opponents. A second round was held on October 28, 2018.
2018: Claims of Rigged Elections
Bolsonaro endorsed conspiracy theories of voter fraud in past elections, including claims that attempts were made to rig the 2018 presidential election against him.
2018: Statements During 2018 Campaign
During the 2018 campaign, Bolsonaro stated during a rally in Acre that the local "petralhas" would be shot. He also said that in his administration, "petralhas" and "reds" would be arrested, purged, or taken to a Navy base where dissidents of the Brazilian military dictatorship were murdered.
2018: Bolsonaro critizises Chavismo
In 2018, during his presidential campaign, Bolsonaro presented himself as a harsh critic of Chavismo, distancing himself from his previous comments made in 1999 when he stated that Hugo Chávez represented "hope for Latin America."
2018: Government enforcement actions decreased
In the first half of 2018, Government enforcement actions such as fines, warnings and the confiscation or destruction of illegal equipment in protected areas decreased by 20% compared to the first half of 2017.
2018: Official records about bomb accusations surfaced
Official records unearthed by the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo in 2018 detailed the October 1987 case, where Jair Bolsonaro was accused of planning to plant bombs in military units in Rio de Janeiro.
March 2019: Bolsonaro on the 1964 coup d'état
In March 2019, Bolsonaro stated that the 1964 coup d'état, which overthrew President João Goulart, was not a coup and that March 31, the day the coup was installed, should be "properly commemorated".
April 2019: American Museum of Natural History canceled event
In April 2019, the American Museum of Natural History canceled an event honouring Bolsonaro after facing heavy public criticism.
May 2019: Federal Court finds Adélio Bispo not liable
In May 2019, the Federal Court found Adélio Bispo de Oliveira, Bolsonaro's attacker, not liable for his actions due to a "permanent paranoid delusional disorder". Bolsonaro did not appeal the decision.
June 2019: Destruction of the Amazon rainforest increased
In June 2019, during Bolsonaro's first year as president, destruction of the Amazon rainforest increased by 88% compared to the previous year, according to the National Institute for Space Research (INPE).
2019: Bolsonaro rejects the scientific consensus on climate change.
In 2019, Bolsonaro rejects the scientific consensus on climate change. He repeatedly threatened to withdraw from the Paris Agreement during his campaign. Even before taking office, he backed out of Brazil's offer to host the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference.
2019: Lawsuit dismissed
In 2019, this lawsuit was dismissed by the Supreme Federal Court as Bolsonaro was inaugurated as president and acquired immunity from prosecution.
2019: Praised Alfredo Stroessner
In 2019, while already in power, Bolsonaro praised Paraguayan dictator Alfredo Stroessner as a "visionary" and "statesman", drawing immediate criticism due to multiple allegations of pedophilia against Stroessner.
November 2020: COVID-19 Vaccine Stance and OCCRP Award
In November 2020, Bolsonaro said he would not take a COVID vaccine but would support it if deemed safe. The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) awarded him its Person of the Year Award for promoting organized crime and corruption.
2020: Questioning US Election Outcome
Bolsonaro has questioned the outcome of the 2020 United States presidential election, echoing conspiracy theories about voter fraud.
2020: Bolsonaro Downplays COVID-19
Throughout 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, Bolsonaro was accused of downplaying the crisis, claiming it was no deadlier than "the flu" and prioritizing economic recovery over public health.
March 2021: Dismissal of Defence Minister and Resignations
In March 2021, Bolsonaro dismissed Fernando Azevedo e Silva as defence minister, replacing him with Walter Souza Braga Netto, who, like Bolsonaro, admired the 1964–1985 military dictatorship. The day after Netto's appointment, the leaders of the army, air force, and navy all resigned.
June 2021: Calls for Impeachment
By the end of June 2021, opposition members increasingly called for Bolsonaro's impeachment, citing his handling of the pandemic and spreading of misinformation.
June 2021: Nationwide Protests Erupt
In June 2021, nationwide protests erupted against Bolsonaro's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, with approximately 100,000 protesters in São Paulo alone.
July 2021: "vaccine-gate" scandal emerges
In July 2021, Bolsonaro claimed that his government's greatest achievement was "two and a half years without corruption". In the same month, the "vaccine-gate" scandal emerged, revealing irregularities in a deal to purchase the Covaxin vaccine from Bharat Biotech at an inflated price, leading to a Supreme Court criminal investigation of Bolsonaro.
July 2021: Appointment of Ciro Noguiera
On July 28, 2021, Bolsonaro appointed Ciro Nogueira, a senator implicated in the Odebrecht corruption case, as his chief of staff.
August 2021: Threats of Unconstitutional Measures
In early August 2021, Bolsonaro threatened to respond with unconstitutional measures to an investigation over his baseless allegations of fraud vulnerabilities in Brazil's electronic voting system.
October 2021: Senate Committee Calls for Criminal Charges
On October 26, 2021, a Senate committee approved a report calling for Bolsonaro to face criminal charges, including crimes against humanity, for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 2022: CIA Warning on Electoral System Attacks
In May 2022, Central Intelligence Agency director William Burns warned Bolsonaro against any further attacks on Brazil's electoral system.
June 2022: Bolsonaro defends former education minister
In June 2022, Jair Bolsonaro defended his former education minister, Milton Ribeiro, after Ribeiro was arrested on corruption charges.
December 2022: Bolsonaro presents plan to overturn election
In December 2022, Marco Antônio Freire Gomes said that he had warned Bolsonaro the army would not tolerate "any act of institutional rupture", and further added that Bolsonaro's actions could result in his arrest. Carlos de Almeida Baptista Júnior testified that he tried to dissuade Bolsonaro of "any extreme measure" and expressed his belief that Freire Gomes was instrumental in avoiding the use of a legal document that Bolsonaro presented in several meetings in December 2022 to overturn the results of the election.
2022: Accusations of overturning the 2022 election results
In February 2024, the Federal Police raided former government officials and ordered Bolsonaro to hand in his passport over accusations that he and his allies tried to overturn the results of the 2022 election and planned a coup d'état. In March 2024, witness documents released by the Superior Electoral Court were made public. According to two military officials, Bolsonaro had plotted to overturn the 2022 results and presented top military officials a plan to carry out a coup with the goal of keeping him in power.
2022: Bolsonaro prosecuted on fraud charges in the 2022 elections
On June 30, 2023 the Superior Electoral Court barred Bolsonaro from running for public office until 2030 as a result of his attempts to undermine the validity of Brazil's 2022 democratic election, as well as for abuse of power with regard to using government channels to promote his campaign. He was prosecuted on several fraud charges in the 2022 elections and situations linked to the 8 January attack on federal government buildings.
2022: Bolsonaro's Defeat in the 2022 presidential elections
On November 21, 2024, the Federal Police indicted Bolsonaro and 36 other people related to Bolsonaro's defeat in the 2022 presidential elections. He is alleged to have known of a plot to assassinate his successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and to overturn the election result.
January 2023: Attack on government buildings by Bolsonaro supporters
On January 8, 2023, Bolsonaro's supporters attacked the Supreme Court of Brazil, the National Congress, and the Planalto Presidential Palace in an attempt to instigate a military coup. Bolsonaro condemned the protesters on January 9, 2023, in a Twitter post and denied responsibility.
January 2023: Storming of government buildings by supporters
On January 8, 2023, a mob of Bolsonaro's supporters stormed federal government buildings, calling for a coup d'état.
April 2023: Supreme Court orders Bolsonaro to be questioned
On April 14, 2023, Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered Jair Bolsonaro to submit himself for questioning with the Federal Police regarding the storming of the Congress.
June 2023: Bolsonaro barred from public office until 2030
On June 30, 2023, the Superior Electoral Court barred Jair Bolsonaro from running for public office until 2030 due to his attempts to undermine the validity of Brazil's 2022 democratic election, as well as abuse of power.
October 2023: Bolsonaro convicted by the Superior Electoral Court
On October 31, 2023, Jair Bolsonaro was again convicted by the Superior Electoral Court for abuse of power during Brazil's Independence Day ceremony. Former defence minister Walter Braga Netto was also convicted and disqualified.
February 2024: Federal Police raid and passport confiscation
In February 2024, the Federal Police raided former government officials and ordered Jair Bolsonaro to hand in his passport over accusations of attempts to overturn the 2022 election and planning a coup d'état.
March 2024: Release of witness documents on coup plot
In March 2024, witness documents released by the Superior Electoral Court revealed that Jair Bolsonaro had plotted to overturn the 2022 election results and presented a coup plan to top military officials.
March 2024: Release of footage showing Bolsonaro in Hungarian embassy
In late March 2024, The New York Times released footage showing Jair Bolsonaro entering the Hungarian embassy in Brasília on February 12 and leaving on February 14, after his passports were confiscated due to a coup investigation. The Hungarian ambassador reportedly had local employees work from home during those dates.
March 2024: Bolsonaro accused of fraud on COVID-19 vaccine records
On March 19, 2024, the Federal Police formally accused Jair Bolsonaro of fraud on his COVID-19 vaccine records.
July 2024: Bolsonaro charged with money laundering
In July 2024, the Federal Police charged Jair Bolsonaro with money laundering and criminal conspiracy related to undeclared diamonds he allegedly received from Saudi Arabia while in office.
November 2024: Bolsonaro charged with plotting a coup d'état
In November 2024, Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others were formally charged with plotting a coup d'état, violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, and criminal organisation.
November 2024: Indictment by the Federal Police of Brazil
In November 2024, Jair Bolsonaro was indicted by the Federal Police of Brazil of multiple crimes related to the coup.
November 2024: Bolsonaro indicted over election defeat
On November 21, 2024, the Federal Police indicted Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people related to Bolsonaro's defeat in the 2022 presidential elections. He is alleged to have known of a plot to assassinate his successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and to overturn the election result.
2024: Release of "Apocalypse in the Tropics" documentary
In 2024, the documentary "Apocalypse in the Tropics" was released, depicting how evangelical pastor Silas Malafaia influenced Jair Bolsonaro, garnered support from Brazil's evangelical movement, and impacted the events leading to Bolsonaro's election loss and subsequent protests and insurrection.
February 2025: Bolsonaro charged with plotting to assassinate Lula da Silva
In February 2025, Jair Bolsonaro and 33 others were formally charged with plotting to assassinate Lula da Silva and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
February 2025: Charged and ordered to stand trial
In February 2025, Jair Bolsonaro was charged, and the Supreme Court ruled he must stand trial.
May 2025: Trial against Bolsonaro begins
On May 19, 2025, the trial against Jair Bolsonaro and 80 other officials began in Brasília.
July 2025: Police search Bolsonaro's home
On July 18, 2025, police again searched Jair Bolsonaro's home and ordered him to wear an electronic ankle tag.
July 2025: Trump criticizes Bolsonaro's prosecution
On July 9, 2025, US President Donald Trump criticized the criminal prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro, accused Brazil of being an unfair trading partner, and made claims regarding tariffs. This led to comparisons with Trump's own legal issues and Lula's arrest.
August 2025: Placed under house arrest
On August 4, 2025, Jair Bolsonaro was placed under house arrest for using a mobile phone and accessing social media via his son Eduardo, violating pre-trial rules.
September 2025: Bolsonaro sentenced to prison
On September 11, 2025, the Supreme Federal Court sentenced Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and 3 months in prison over the coup plot.
2030: Bolsonaro is barred from running for public office until 2030
On June 30, 2023, the Superior Electoral Court barred Jair Bolsonaro from running for public office until 2030 as a result of his attempts to undermine the validity of Brazil's 2022 democratic election, as well as for abuse of power with regard to using government channels to promote his campaign.
2030: Blocked from seeking office
On June 30, 2030, the Superior Electoral Court blocked Bolsonaro from seeking office until 2030 for attempting to undermine the validity of the election through his unfounded claims of voter fraud, and for abusing his power by using government communication channels to both promote his campaign and to allege fraud.
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