Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, the ex-president of Honduras, who was convicted of drug trafficking in a U.S. court. This announcement came through a social media post on Friday, where Trump claimed Hernández had been treated harshly and unfairly.
Hernández’s Conviction and Sentence
In March 2024, Hernández was found guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and possession of machine guns. He received a substantial sentence of 45 years in prison and was also fined $8 million.
Background on Juan Orlando Hernández
Hernández served as the president of Honduras from 2014 to 2022, representing the National Party. He was extradited to the U.S. in April 2022 to face charges related to a violent drug trafficking organization. Prosecutors described his administration as indicative of a “narco-state,” alleging he accepted millions in bribes from drug traffickers.
Support for Conservative Candidate Nasry Asfura
Alongside his support for Hernández’s pardon, Trump expressed his backing for Nasry “Tito” Asfura, a conservative candidate in the upcoming Honduran general election scheduled for Sunday. Asfura, the former mayor of Tegucigalpa, leads the National Party and faces stiff competition.
Election Landscape in Honduras
- Rixi Moncada – Former defense minister from the ruling left-wing Libre Party.
- Salvador Nasralla – Television host representing the centrist Liberal Party.
Current polls suggest a competitive race among the three candidates. Trump criticized Moncada and Nasralla, labeling Nasralla as a “borderline Communist,” who is causing vote division.
Trump’s Critique and Claims
Trump characterized Asfura as a defender of democracy, praising his campaign against Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro. In recent months, Trump has been vocal against Maduro, accusing him of leading a drug cartel.
In his campaign, Nasralla has promised to sever ties with Venezuela if elected. Some analysts view U.S. military actions in the Caribbean, justified by an anti-drug narrative, as efforts to exert pressure on regional leaders.
Honduras and U.S. Relations
Since 2022, Honduras has been under the leadership of President Xiomara Castro, who has established close relationships with Cuba and Venezuela. Despite this, Castro maintains cooperative ties with the United States, upholding an extradition treaty and allowing the presence of a U.S. military base that targets transnational crime.
U.S. Military Actions Against Narcotrafficking
In the fight against drug trafficking, U.S. operations have led to more than 80 fatalities among individuals on vessels suspected of drug transportation since August. U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth asserted that “Operation Southern Spear” aims to eliminate “narcoterrorists.” However, the legality of these military strikes has come under scrutiny, as critics argue that the U.S. has not provided sufficient evidence supporting its claims.
