Eduardo Bolsonaro, a former Brazilian federal deputy and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has been granted a green card by the administration of US President Donald Trump, according to reports published on 20 and 21 July. The document, which allows him to live and work permanently in the United States, was obtained under the "extraordinary abilities" immigration category, the same criterion used by journalist and influencer Paulo Figueiredo, who received his green card in 2023. Eduardo Bolsonaro's application process took over a year and required him to demonstrate notoriety and potential benefit to American society, he said in an interview. The green card also covers his wife and two children.

The news prompted a sharp response from Ronaldo Caiado, former governor of Goiás and a pre-candidate for the Brazilian presidency. Writing on the social media platform X on 21 July, Caiado argued that the green card should serve Brazilian agricultural producers seeking access to the US market, not personal interests. "Green card, who needs it is the Brazilian producer to enter the American market without paying a toll," he wrote, adding that the issue was about "moral authority to govern." Eduardo Bolsonaro replied hours later, accusing Caiado of remaining silent about "farmers convicted in the Disney coup" – a reference critics deride as the "Disney coup" – and of currying favour with Supreme Court justices by granting them honorary citizenship of Goiás.

The exchange occurs against a backdrop of deteriorating diplomatic relations between Brazil and the United States. According to reports, the Trump administration recently imposed a 25% tariff on Brazilian products following an investigation by the US Trade Representative. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly criticised Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, prompting a response from Brazil's foreign ministry, which described the remarks as "rude" and "arrogant." Eduardo Bolsonaro has been living in the United States since February 2025, after becoming a target of legal proceedings in Brazil's Supreme Court. He was sentenced to four years and two months in prison for coercion related to his activities in the US aimed at intimidating the judiciary.

Allies of former federal deputy Alexandre Ramagem, who is also in the US, have suggested he pursue a similar path to obtain a green card, according to three associates cited by Metrópoles. They mentioned possibilities such as political asylum or the EB-1A employment-based category, the same modality used by Eduardo Bolsonaro. One ally said that if Ramagem returns to Brazil, he would be arrested, referring to a conviction by the Supreme Court. The green card remains a point of contention in Brazilian politics, with no further official statements from either Caiado or Eduardo Bolsonaro expected in the immediate term.