President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he will pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, the former Honduran president who in 2024 was convicted on drug trafficking and weapons charges and sentenced to 45 years in prison. Trump said, citing people he “greatly respect[s],” that Hernández had been “treated very harshly and unfairly.” Hernández was convicted in March 2024 of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and has been appealing his conviction while incarcerated at the U.S. Penitentiary Hazelton in West Virginia.
A lawyer for Hernández, Renato C. Stabile, thanked Trump, saying, “A great injustice has been righted and we are so hopeful for the future partnership of the United States and Honduras. Thank you President Trump for making sure that justice was served. We look forward to President Hernandez’s triumphant return to Honduras.” Another attorney, Sabrina Shroff, declined to comment.
In the same post, Trump endorsed Nasry “Tito” Asfura in Honduras’ presidential race, saying the United States would back Honduras if Asfura wins and warning that Washington “will not be throwing good money after bad, because a wrong Leader can only bring catastrophic results to a country.” Asfura, 67, is the conservative National Party candidate, a former mayor of Tegucigalpa who has pledged to tackle infrastructure needs but has faced—and denied—embezzlement allegations.
Other prominent candidates include Rixi Moncada of the incumbent Libre party, a former finance and defense secretary, and Salvador Nasralla, a former television personality running for the Liberal Party. Trump has characterized the Honduran vote as a test for democracy and suggested that an Asfura loss could steer Honduras toward Venezuelan influence under Nicolás Maduro.
The Trump administration has taken a hard line on Venezuela, authorizing strikes against suspected drug-running boats and increasing U.S. military activity in the Caribbean, including the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford. Trump has not ruled out additional military or covert actions and has said he might be open to speaking with Maduro.
Outgoing Honduran President Xiomara Castro has pursued left-leaning policies while maintaining pragmatic ties with the United States, hosting visits from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and then-U.S. Southern Command commander Gen. Laura Richardson. Castro stepped back from earlier threats to end Honduras’ extradition treaty and military cooperation with the U.S. Under her administration, Honduras has received deported citizens from the United States and served as a transit point for deported Venezuelans who were later picked up by Venezuela.
Argentine President Javier Milei, an admirer of Trump, also voiced support for Asfura, tweeting, “I fully support Tito Asfura, who is the candidate who best represents the opposition to the leftist tyrants who have destroyed Honduras.”