Trump Plans Pardon for Former Honduran President Hernandez

On Friday, President Trump announced his intention to issue a “full and complete pardon” to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández. This decision comes just days before Hondurans are set to vote.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump mentioned Hernández, who received a 45-year prison sentence in New York last year for his involvement in drug trafficking—specifically, for conspiring to bring over 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S. Trump expressed that Hernández has been “extremely harshly and unfairly treated.”

Trump stated, “I am extending a full and complete pardon to former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who, according to many people I respect, has been treated very harshly and unjustly. This cannot be allowed to happen at a time when Honduras is poised for great political and financial success, especially after Tito Asufura won the election.”

Following a trial that lasted two weeks, Hernández was found guilty in March 2024 of conspiracy to import cocaine and two associated weapons charges.

Trump also reinforced his backing for Asufura, a candidate from the National Party and former mayor of Tegucigalpa. He asserted the U.S. would be “very supportive” if Asufura won because Washington has “so much confidence in Asufura, his policies, and what he will do for the great people of Honduras.”

Earlier, Trump had indicated that he and Asufura “can work together to fight the narco-communists and bring needed aid to the Honduran people.” He took the opportunity to criticize Asufura’s opponents, including ruling party candidate Rixie Moncada and Liberal Party’s Salvador Nasrallah.

He pointed out, “His main opponent is Rixie Moncada, who says Fidel Castro is her idol. Normally, a sensible Honduran people would reject her and elect Tito Asufura, but the communists are trying to deceive the people by fielding Salvador Nasrallah as their third candidate.”

Continuing his critique, Trump remarked, “Mr. Nasrallah is no friend of freedom. He is a borderline communist who ran for and supported Xiomara Castro as vice president. He won and helped Castro win. He then resigned and is now pretending to be an anti-communist for the sole purpose of polarizing Asufura’s vote. The Honduran people must not be fooled again.”

According to Reuters, Hondurans cast their votes on Sunday, with polls indicating that Asufura was nearly tied with Moncada and Nasrallah. The incoming leader will govern from 2026 to 2030. Since 2022, Honduras has been under the leadership of President Xiomara Castro, the nation’s first female president.