President Trump has dropped a bombshell, announcing his plan to fully pardon a former Honduran president locked away for massive drug trafficking crimes, Fox News reported.
Trump revealed his intention to grant a "full and complete pardon" to Juan Orlando Hernández, who was sentenced to 45 years in prison for aiding the movement of over 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S., while also throwing his weight behind a key Honduran presidential candidate just days before a critical election.
Last year, Hernández faced justice in a New York courtroom, receiving a hefty 45-year sentence after his conviction in March 2024 for conspiring to import cocaine and related weapons charges, as reported by The Associated Press.
The announcement of a potential pardon came on Friday, with Trump signaling his belief that Hernández has been dealt an unfair hand by the legal system.
"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 declared. Well, if that’s not a curveball, what is—pardoning a man tied to hundreds of tons of narcotics raises eyebrows, though Trump’s conviction about injustice resonates with those skeptical of overzealous prosecutions.
Trump tied this decision to broader hopes for Honduras, suggesting the pardon aligns with a vision for the country’s future success under new leadership.
Just days before Hondurans cast their votes on Sunday, Trump doubled down on his endorsement of Nasry "Tito" Asfura, the National Party candidate and former mayor of Tegucigalpa.
Trump promised the U.S. would be "very supportive" of Honduras should Asfura emerge victorious, highlighting confidence in Asfura’s policies for political and economic prosperity. It’s a clear signal—Trump sees Asfura as a partner in steering Honduras away from troubling influences.
In a Truth Social post earlier that same Friday, Trump emphasized collaboration, stating he and Asfura "can work together to fight the narcocommunists and bring needed aid to the people of Honduras." There’s a jab at progressive ideologies here, cleverly masked as a call for unity against shared threats.
Trump didn’t hold back on Asfura’s opponents, taking aim at Rixi Moncada of the ruling party and Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party with pointed critiques.
He painted Moncada as an admirer of Fidel Castro, suggesting her ideals clash with Honduran values, while accusing Nasralla of playing a deceptive game to split conservative votes. It’s a classic political chess move—call out the opposition’s playbook while rallying the base.
Nasralla, Trump noted, previously served as vice president under current President Xiomara Castro, Honduras’s first female leader since 2022, before resigning and now positioning himself as an anti-communist candidate. One has to wonder if this flip-flop is genuine or just election-season theater.
With polls showing Asfura nearly neck-and-neck with Moncada and Nasralla, as reported by Reuters, this Sunday’s election is anyone’s game. The winner will lead Honduras from 2026 to 2030, a pivotal period for the nation’s direction.
Trump’s involvement, from the pardon announcement to his candidate endorsement, underscores a broader U.S. interest in Honduras’s path, particularly in curbing drug trafficking and leftist policies. While some may see this as meddling, others might argue it’s a necessary stand against destabilizing forces in the region.
As Hondurans prepare to vote, the shadow of Hernández’s case and Trump’s bold promises loom large, potentially swaying opinions at the ballot box. It’s a high-stakes moment—will Trump’s gambit pay off, or will it fuel more division in an already tense political landscape?
