The press office of Bolsonaro's Vice-President, Gen Hamilton Mourão, confirmed he was acting as president. That would happen while Bolsonaro was travelling, meaning that he would skip the inauguration in a break with Brazilian tradition.
Brazil's official gazette says several officials were given permission to accompany "the future ex-president" to Miami between January 1 and January 30, to offer "advice, security and personal support."
According to flight tracking websites, the Armed Forces' official aeroplane left the capital, Brasilia, around 2 pm local time for Orlando, Fla.