Brazil's Supreme Court has denied former president Jair Bolsonaro permission to attend Donald Trump's upcoming inauguration in the United States, citing concerns he might flee justice amid ongoing investigations into alleged coup plotting.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes ruled on January 16 that the scenario warranting the initial confiscation of Bolsonaro's passport remains unchanged, pointing to "the possibility of an attempted evasion by the accused" to avoid criminal prosecution. The decision follows a request from Bolsonaro's legal team for him to travel to the US from January 17 to 22 for inauguration events, including two balls and the official ceremony.

"I'm feeling like a kid again with Trump's invite. I'm fired up. I'm not even taking Viagra anymore," Bolsonaro stated ahead of the ruling, expressing his eagerness to attend the swearing-in ceremony in Washington.

The former far-right Brazilian leader, dubbed the "Trump of the Tropics" during his presidency, has been without his passport since February last year when it was seized by federal authorities. His legal team's appeal for temporary return of the document was opposed by Brazil's prosecutor-general, Paulo Gonet, who argued there was no "basic, urgent and unavoidable need" for Bolsonaro to leave the country.

Questions arose over the authenticity of Bolsonaro's invitation, with the court noting that the email was sent from an unidentified address without detailed ceremony information. While his lawyers defended the legitimacy of the communication, citing the common use of specific temporary online domains for US presidential inaugurations, de Moraes found the documentation insufficient.

The court highlighted Bolsonaro's recent social media activity as cause for concern, including an October post praising "refugee brothers in Argentina" that referenced 12 individuals reportedly fleeing justice in Buenos Aires. De Moraes also pointed to an interview where the former president discussed the possibility of seeking refuge in an embassy.

Bolsonaro's office responded forcefully to the court's decision, describing it as "lawfare" and arguing that the Trump invitation symbolised deep ties between "two of the greatest democracies in the Americas". Brazil will instead be represented at the inauguration by its ambassador to the US, Maria Luiza Viotti.

The ruling adds to mounting legal pressure on the former president, who is barred from holding public office until 2030 for undermining confidence in Brazil's electoral system during his failed re-election campaign. In November, federal police accused Bolsonaro and 36 allies of planning what they described as the "violent overthrow of the democratic state" following his narrow defeat to leftist leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2022.

The inauguration is set to be a gathering of prominent right-wing figures, with expected attendees including Argentina's libertarian President Javier Milei, German hard-right AfD leader Tino Chrupalla and pro-Brexit British MP Nigel Farage. Tech industry leaders are also anticipated to attend, including Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, who serves as a close adviser to the incoming US president.

Republican members of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee expressed support for Bolsonaro following the court's decision, describing him as "a friend of America and a patriot" who should be permitted to attend the ceremony.

Bolsonaro's legal team has filed an appeal against the ruling, maintaining that their client has consistently complied with imposed restrictions. They argued that his previous travel to Argentina in December, while already under investigation but before the implementation of precautionary measures, demonstrated his commitment to observing legal obligations. The lawyers emphasised that attendance at a presidential inauguration falls within his role as a former head of state and active politician.

The former president faces multiple investigations beyond the coup allegations. Police have recommended charges related to falsifying COVID-19 vaccination records, and he is under scrutiny regarding the alleged misappropriation of Saudi Arabian gifts. His legal troubles intensified after supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília on January 8, 2023, in an episode drawing parallels to the violent US Capitol attack two years prior.

Despite these challenges, Bolsonaro has consistently denied all accusations, characterising the investigations as political persecution. His situation mirrors claims made by Trump, who has similarly accused his opponents of weaponising the justice system for political gain.