Lula blames Flavio Bolsonaro for Trump's defeat: 'He is just unlucky'

In the recent midterm elections in the United States, the Republican Party suffered a crushing defeat. President Donald Trump's party has lost control of both chambers of Congress. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has blamed his own defeated election rival, Flavio Bolsonaro, for the loss, mocking him in the process.

Speaking on a YouTube livestream last Thursday, Lula said Flavio Bolsonaro's arrival in the United States had proved to be bad luck, or an ill omen, for President Donald Trump.

In the livestream, hosted with Brazilian lawmaker Andre Janones, Lula said jokingly, 'He is just unlucky. He made Trump lose money. As soon as he arrived in the United States, Trump lost.'

Lula's pointed remarks came after the results of the US midterm elections held last Tuesday became clear. In the elections, the Democrats secured control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The result is being seen as a huge political disaster for President Donald Trump and his party, the Republicans.

In the presidential election on October 25, Flavio Bolsonaro lost to Lula. With that victory, Lula was re-elected as Brazil's president for a fourth term.

Soon after losing the election, Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and a current senator, left for the United States.

According to a report in the British newspaper The Guardian, Brazil's Supreme Court and the country's Attorney General's office have begun an investigation into possible sources of foreign interference and funding in Brazil's political and electoral process.

As part of that, the matter of a grant of about one million dollars from the US State Department's human rights fund has come to light, and the Brazilian government is investigating it. However, the US government has not publicly admitted that any such funds were given directly to Flavio Bolsonaro.

Flavio faces several legal investigations in Brazil over serious allegations of corruption, money laundering and tax evasion. Lula alleges that Flavio went to Miami in the United States to evade trial and seek protection.

Warning Flavio, Lula said, 'He has gone there looking for protection. Let us see what kind of protection he gets! He will have to return to Brazil and face the court.'

Meanwhile, after losing the Brazilian presidential election to Lula, Flavio Bolsonaro has still not formally conceded defeat. Without presenting any specific evidence, he has continued to allege fraud in the election.