Trump plans ‘full and complete pardon’ for former Honduran president convicted of drug trafficking
In a surprising announcement on Friday, former President Donald Trump declared his intention to issue a “full and complete pardon” for Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras, who was sentenced to 45 years in prison for drug trafficking offenses. This statement comes just days before Honduras is set to hold a pivotal election, where presidential candidate Nasry “Tito” Asfura is vying for the presidency. Trump’s comments, made via his social media platform Truth Social, suggest that he believes Hernández has been treated “very harshly and unfairly” and that his pardon will coincide with a new era of political and financial success for Honduras under Asfura’s leadership.
Hernández, who was convicted in March 2024 for conspiring to import over 400 tons of cocaine into the United States, has been a controversial figure in Honduran politics. Trump’s endorsement of Asfura, the National Party candidate and former mayor of Tegucigalpa, further emphasizes his support for a shift in Honduran governance. Trump expressed confidence in Asfura’s ability to lead the country and stated that the U.S. would provide significant support if he wins the election. In a pointed critique of Asfura’s opponents, Trump labeled Rixi Moncada, the ruling party candidate, as someone who idolizes Fidel Castro, and dismissed Salvador Nasralla, a candidate from the Liberal Party, as a “borderline Communist” attempting to split the vote. With the election taking place on Sunday, the stakes are high, as polls indicate a tight race between Asfura, Moncada, and Nasralla, with the winner set to govern from 2026 to 2030.
This political maneuvering occurs against the backdrop of a complex and tumultuous political landscape in Honduras, which has been under the leadership of Xiomara Castro since 2022, the nation’s first female president. The upcoming election is crucial for the future direction of the country, as it grapples with issues of corruption, drug trafficking, and economic instability. Trump’s intervention in Honduran politics, particularly his call for a pardon for Hernández, raises questions about U.S. influence in Central America and the implications of supporting candidates with controversial pasts. As the election approaches, Hondurans are faced with significant choices that will shape their political and economic future, while the international community watches closely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSheJpif328
President Trump announced Friday he intends to issue a “full and complete pardon” to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, while simultaneously reaffirming his support for
presidential candidate
Nasry “Tito” Asfura just days before Hondurans head to the polls.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Hernández. who was sentenced in New York last year to 45 years in prison for conspiring with drug traffickers to move over 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S., was “treated very harshly and unfairly.”
“I will be granting a Full and Complete Pardon to Former President Juan Orlando Hernandez who has been, according to many people that I greatly respect, treated very harshly and unfairly,” Trump said. “This cannot be allowed to happen, especially now, after Tito Asfura
wins the Election
, when Honduras will be on its way to Great Political and Financial Success.”
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Hernández was convicted in March 2024 on charges of conspiring to import cocaine into the U.S. and two related weapons offenses after a two-week trial, according to The Associated Press.
Trump also doubled down on his backing of Asfura, the National Party candidate and former mayor of Tegucigalpa, saying the U.S. would be “very supportive” if he wins because Washington has “so much confidence in him, his policies and what he will do for the great people of Honduras.”
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In a separate Truth Social post earlier Friday, Trump said he and Asfura “can work together to fight the narcocommunists and
bring needed aid
to the people of Honduras.”
He also sharply criticized Asfura’s rivals, including ruling party candidate Rixi Moncada and TV host Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party.
“His chief opponent is Rixi Moncada, who says
Fidel Castro is her idol
,” Trump said. “Normally, the smart people of Honduras, would reject her, and elect Tito Asfura, but the Communists are trying to trick the people by running a third Candidate, Salvador Nasralla.
“Nasralla is no friend of Freedom. A borderline Communist, he helped Xiomara Castro by running as her Vice President. He won, and helped Castro win. Then he resigned, and is now pretending to be an anti-Communist only for the purposes of splitting Asfura’s vote. The people of Honduras must not be tricked again.”
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Hondurans vote Sunday, and polls show Asfura virtually tied with Moncada and Nasralla, according to Reuters.
The winner will govern from 2026 to 2030.
The Central American country has been led since 2022 by
President Xiomara Castro
, the country’s first female president.
