Former U.S. President Donald Trump has declared plans to pardon Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras, who was convicted in March 2024 on charges related to drug trafficking and weapons possession. Hernandez received a sentence of 45 years in prison after a U.S. court found him guilty of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States. Trump’s announcement, made via social media, cited the views of “many people that I greatly respect,” who believe Hernandez was “treated very harshly and unfairly.”
Hernandez, who served two terms as president of Honduras, has been appealing his conviction while incarcerated at the U.S. Penitentiary, Hazelton in West Virginia. His attorney, Renato C. Stabile, expressed gratitude for Trump’s decision, stating, “A great injustice has been righted and we are so hopeful for the future partnership of the United States and Honduras.” Stabile further thanked Trump for ensuring that “justice was served” and looked forward to Hernandez’s potential return to his home country.
Trump’s announcement coincided with his endorsement of Nasry “Tito” Asfura, a candidate in Honduras’ upcoming presidential election. Trump indicated that the U.S. would support Honduras under Asfura’s leadership, but warned that a loss for Asfura could lead to dire consequences. He stated, “the United States will not be throwing good money after bad, because a wrong leader can only bring catastrophic results to a country.”
Asfura, aged 67, is making his second bid for the presidency representing the conservative National Party. His tenure as mayor of Tegucigalpa has been marked by promises to address Honduras’ infrastructure needs, despite facing allegations of embezzling public funds, which he denies. Other prominent candidates in the election include Rixi Moncada, a former finance and defense secretary running for the incumbent democratic socialist Libre party, and Salvador Nasralla, a former television personality making his fourth presidential run as the candidate for the Liberal Party.
Trump has framed the upcoming election as a critical test for democracy in Honduras. In a separate post on Truth Social, he suggested that a loss for Asfura could result in Honduras following the path of Venezuela, potentially falling under the influence of its leader, Nicolás Maduro. To counteract Maduro’s influence, Trump has ordered military actions against vessels suspected of drug trafficking and has bolstered the U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, including deploying the Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford. Trump has not dismissed the possibility of military or covert actions against Venezuela, while also expressing a willingness to engage in dialogue with Maduro.
Outgoing Honduran President Xiomara Castro has maintained a leftist agenda but has adopted a pragmatic approach in dealings with the U.S. administration. She has received visits from high-ranking officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and former U.S. Southern Command commander General Laura Richardson. Castro has also moderated her position regarding the U.S. extradition treaty and military cooperation.
In a show of international support, Argentine President Javier Milei, a known admirer of Trump, voiced his backing for Asfura, stating, “I fully support Tito Asfura, who is the candidate who best represents the opposition to the leftist tyrants who have destroyed Honduras.” As the election approaches, the political landscape in Honduras remains charged with the implications of U.S. involvement and the fate of its leadership.
