Trump Announces Plan To Pardon Honduras Ex-president Just Days Before National Vote
In a move that stunned political observers in both the FE3F3 and Central America, Trump announced that he intends to pardon former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who is currently serving a lengthy sentence in the United States for drug trafficking. The declaration—issued only days before Honduras heads to a pivotal presidential election—marks one of the most dramatic foreign-policy statements Trump has made in recent months.
Hernández, who served as president of Honduras from 2014 to 2022, was extradited to the United States shortly after leaving office. In 2024, a federal jury in New York convicted him of facilitating the transport of hundreds of tons of cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela into the United States, using Honduras as a major route. He was subsequently sentenced to 45 years in prison, a ruling that U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland described as accountability for “one of the largest and most violent drug-trafficking conspiracies in the world.”
Despite this, Trump asserted that Hernández was “treated very harshly and unfairly,” offering no specifics but signaling deep skepticism toward the judicial process that convicted the former Honduran leader. The statement has quickly become a major flashpoint in Honduran political discourse, creating shockwaves just days before the country’s voters choose their next president.
Trump Throws Support Behind Nasry Asfura
Alongside his promise to pardon Hernández, Trump also publicly endorsed Nasry Asfura, the candidate representing Hernández’s right-wing party in Honduras’s upcoming election. Asfura—a 67-year-old businessman and former mayor of Tegucigalpa—is locked in an extremely competitive three-way race against both a left-leaning lawyer and a fellow conservative television personality.
In his social media post, Trump expressed unequivocal support for Asfura while delivering a stern warning about U.S. financial aid to Honduras. According to Trump, if Asfura fails to win the presidency, Washington should not continue what he described as “throwing good money after bad.” He further argued that “a wrong leader can only bring catastrophic results to a country,” a statement that many political analysts interpreted as an attempt to influence Honduran voters directly.
This kind of language from Trump is neither subtle nor symbolic. It sends a clear message: the former U.S. president is willing to intervene in the political future of another country—especially one as strategically important to U.S. immigration and security concerns as Honduras.
Honduras, a nation long troubled by corruption, organized crime, and political instability, is once again at a crossroads. The 2025 election is seen as a critical moment that could shape the country’s future for years. Asfura’s campaign emphasizes economic development and security—a message aimed at voters weary of government scandals and gang violence.
However, Trump’s announcement has complicated the political landscape. By tying U.S. support directly to Asfura’s success, Trump has inserted an international dimension into a domestic race, giving rival candidates ammunition to argue that Asfura is aligned with foreign interference.
Political commentators in the region are already debating whether Trump’s remarks will help or harm Asfura. Some believe the former president’s support could sway conservative voters who see the United States as an important ally. Others warn that it may backfire, framing Asfura as too close to an outsider who is attempting to influence the nation’s sovereignty.
Even before his conviction, Hernández’s presidency was overshadowed by allegations of corruption and connections to drug trafficking networks. Although he consistently denied wrongdoing, prosecutors in the U.S. argued that he used his political power to facilitate cocaine shipments for years—even before assuming the presidency.
The decision by Trump to publicly consider a pardon for Hernández has therefore raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. Critics say the move undermines U.S. anti-drug-trafficking efforts and sends a confusing message about accountability. Supporters of Trump, however, frame the decision as part of his broader skepticism about the U.S. justice system, especially when international politics are involved.
With Honduras’s election imminent, Trump’s intervention will likely fuel intense debate in both countries. As Honduran voters weigh their choices, they must now also consider how their decision might impact relations with the United States—particularly if Trump returns to the White House or continues to influence U.S. policy from the national stage.
What remains clear is that Trump has once again demonstrated his willingness to challenge convention, reshape political narratives, and redefine how U.S. leaders engage with global politics. Whether his pledge to pardon Hernández and his endorsement of Asfura will sway Honduran voters—or alter the future of U.S.-Honduras relations—remains to be seen.
