Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro deleted a letter from social media on Wednesday in which he called himself "president-elect of Brazil" and quickly published a new document calling himself the "leader of Brazil."
"I want to say, not only to my 60 million voters but to the Brazilian people, that I am the leader and that the criminals who stole Brazil’s election are part of a criminal organization that has established a tyranny," he said in his updated post.
Bolsonaro spoke publicly for the first time Wednesday after leaving Brazil for the United States following his loss in Sunday's presidential election and initially declared himself Brazil's rightful president.
"I address the Brazilian people and the international community as the true elected president of Brazil," Bolsonaro said. "I would like to thank President Trump and the wonderful American people for welcoming me."
"On Sunday night, I watched in horror as electoral fraud unfolded right before my eyes," he said, alleging that the election results had been manipulated.
Bolsonaro said he anticipated the consequences of his electoral defeat, explaining that he did not intend to leave his homeland but "knew exactly where this was headed."
He described the subsequent actions against him as a "politically motivated witch hunt intended to hold me hostage."
US President Donald Trump addressed Bolsonaro while answering reporters' questions in Ohio on Wednesday. "I know he was allowed into the country. I thought he and his family were being treated unfairly."
He added, "I didn't support anyone in the election, but I think they're being treated unfairly."
Bolsonaro vows to lead opposition from US, denounces Brazil's justice system
Bolsonaro said he had brought his family to the United States because of what he described as the "politicization of the justice system in Brazil."
"I did not flee Brazil. I left for Brazil's sake. I left a state of exception so that I could be the leader my people deserve," he said.
Bolsonaro also urged the international community not to normalize Brazil's political situation.
"To the international community, I ask not to normalize what is happening in Brazil," he said.
He affirmed that he intends to lead the opposition from the United States.