New Delhi: Jason Miller, a Trump-loyalist who lobbied for India till June this year in the US, aided in hiring the private jet that carried Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro from Argentina to Florida after he lost the poll, a result he strongly contested.
Miller joined the US government in July this year as a “special government employee” and worked with Eduardo Bolsonaro, Flávio’s brother, to hire a private aircraft to fly the defeated presidential candidate to Miami, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). Miller’s contract with the Indian Embassy was terminated on 23 June 2026, according to Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) disclosures.
Miller worked with President Donald Trump’s campaign almost a decade ago, and was slated to become the White House Communications Director until a controversy led him exiting the 2016 Presidential transition team. Miller has worked in all three Trump campaigns.
In April 2025, the Embassy of India in Washington hired Miller and his firm SHW Partners LLC for a year-long contract worth $1.8 million. The contract was signed two days after the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The contract with Miller was renewed earlier this year, with the payment terms remaining the same, as per disclosures made public under the FARA. Another firm signed up by the Indian Embassy in Washington—Mercury Public Affairs LLC—with links to Trump’s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles continues to lobby on behalf of the mission in the American capital.
As a special government employee, Miller can work for the US government for not more than 130 days in the last 365 days, the same limitations that were placed on Elon Musk last year, when he effectively headed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after Trump assumed power at the White House.
As a lobbyist for India, Miller spoke to a number of senior Trump officials, especially US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, amidst the ongoing negotiations for a bilateral trade deal between New Delhi and Washington, as per FARA filings.
Greer is the main negotiator for the trade deal on the US’ side.
Between November 2025 and April 2026, Miller disclosed at least eight calls with Greer, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Wiles and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. India and the US announced the framework for a trade deal following a call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump.
Miller’s close links with Trump, including previous communications work in all three presidential campaigns, made him a key lobbyist link to the White House. In his present role as a special government employee, Miller is reported by CNN to be responsible for crafting messaging to promote the accomplishments of the Trump White House.
As a part of Trump’s inner circle, Miller is reported to have also worked on Flávio’s exit from Brazil. Flávio, the son of jailed former President Jair Bolsonaro, lost the presidential elections held on 25 October to Lula da Silva, the incumbent leftist President of Brazil.
A number of countries including India have recognised Lula’s victory.
Since arriving in Miami, Flávio has declared himself the legitimate leader of Brazil, raising questions over the Brazilian electoral process. He has found little support within Brazil or from his allies.
Flávio took aim at the extension of voting period by two hours, ordered by a Judge considered to be close to Lula as proof of electoral malpractice.
However, the younger Bolsonaro himself had requested an extension, which finds no mention in his latest statements. The night of the results, the Brazilian Supreme Court ordered Bolsonaro to surrender his passport.
In an operation involving four vehicles, Bolsonaro and his family departed the Brazilian capital of Brasilia for Argentina less than 24 hours after losing the election, according to the WSJ.
He crossed the border into Argentina around 10 PM Tuesday, before departing on a private chartered aircraft from the border city of Puerto Iguazú around 12:21 am Wednesday before landing in Ecuador, according to the American newspaper.
Later Wednesday, Bolsonaro eventually reached Miami. The private aircraft was chartered with Baires Fly, according to WSJ, by Miller and Bolsonaro’s brother Eduardo who continues to live in Texas.
Flávio’s choice of leaving Brazil mirrors his father’s actions in the aftermath of the 2022 election defeat. The Bolsonaro senior left Brazil for Orlando, in Florida and remained in the US for around three months. The elder Bolsonaro refused to concede to Lula as well.
Eventually, the elder Bolsonaro returned to Brazil and was later convicted of attempting to overthrow the results of the 2022 elections. Jair (71) remains under house arrest.
Miller’s reported role in Flávio’s flight from Brazil, highlights the links of individuals to Trump’s inner-circle and why countries hire lobbyists linked to the American President. Lobbying is legal in the US, as long as all agents are registered under FARA and disclosures as required by law are filed.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Also read: Flavio Bolsonaro reaches US after losing polls, declares himself Brazil’s ‘rightful leader’