President Donald Trump announced on Friday, November 8, 2024, his intention to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez. Hernandez was convicted in 2024 on charges of drug trafficking and weapons and subsequently sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Trump stated on social media that, according to individuals he respects, Hernandez was "treated very harshly and unfairly."
Hernandez served two terms as the leader of Honduras, a Central American nation with approximately 10 million inhabitants. He is currently appealing his conviction while serving his sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary, Hazelton, in West Virginia.
Renato C. Stabile, a lawyer representing Hernandez, expressed appreciation for Trump's action, stating, "A great injustice has been righted and we are so hopeful for the future partnership of the United States and Honduras." Stabile added, "Thank you President Trump for making sure that justice was served. We look forward to President Hernandez's triumphant return to Honduras." Another lawyer for Hernandez, Sabrina Shroff, declined to comment.
In a related social media post, Trump endorsed Nasry "Tito" Asfura for the Honduran presidency. Trump indicated that the United States would support Honduras if Asfura wins the upcoming election. He further stated that if Asfura does not win, "the United States will not be throwing good money after bad, because a wrong Leader can only bring catastrophic results to a country, no matter which country it is."
Asfura, 67, is a candidate for the conservative National Party, making his second presidential bid. He previously served as mayor of Tegucigalpa and has committed to addressing Honduras's infrastructure needs. Asfura has faced allegations of embezzling public funds, which he denies.
Other notable contenders in the Honduran presidential election include Rixi Moncada, who previously served as finance and defense secretary before running for the incumbent democratic socialist Libre party, and Salvador Nasralla, a former television personality now making his fourth presidential attempt as the Liberal Party candidate.
Trump described the Honduran election as a "trial for democracy," suggesting that an Asfura loss could lead Honduras to align with Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro's influence.
Regarding Venezuela, Trump has previously ordered strikes against vessels suspected of drug trafficking and increased the U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, including deploying the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier. He has not excluded military or covert action by the CIA against Venezuela but has also expressed openness to dialogue with Maduro.
Outgoing Honduran President Xiomara Castro, who has aligned with leftist policies, has maintained a pragmatic and cooperative relationship with the U.S. administration. Her tenure has seen visits from U.S. officials such as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson. Castro has also continued Honduras's extradition treaty and military cooperation with the U.S., received Honduran citizens deported from the U.S., and facilitated the return of deported Venezuelans from Honduras to Venezuela.
Argentine President Javier Milei also voiced support for Asfura, stating on X, "I fully support Tito Asfura, who is the candidate who best represents the opposition to the leftist tyrants who have destroyed Honduras."