Trump Announces Pardon for Former Honduran President Hernández Amid Upcoming Election

President Donald Trump announced on Friday his plan to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted in 2024 for drug trafficking and weapons charges and sentenced to 45 years in a U.S. prison. Trump stated that Hernández was "treated very harshly and unfairly," citing opinions from respected individuals.

Hernández, who served as Honduras' president from 2014 to 2022, was found guilty of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States. He is currently incarcerated at the U.S. Penitentiary, Hazelton in West Virginia.

Renato C. Stabile, one of Hernández's attorneys, expressed gratitude for the pardon, stating that a great injustice has been righted and expressing hope for future U.S.-Honduras relations.

In the same announcement, Trump endorsed Nasry "Tito" Asfura, the conservative National Party candidate in Honduras' upcoming presidential election. Trump warned that if Asfura's opponents win, the United States would reconsider its support, suggesting that a wrong leader could bring catastrophic results to the country.

Asfura, 67, is making his second bid for the presidency, emphasizing infrastructure development. He faces competition from Rixi Moncada of the ruling Liberty and Refoundation (LIBRE) party and Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party. The election is scheduled for Sunday, November 30, 2025.

Current President Xiomara Castro has maintained cooperative relations with the U.S. despite her leftist leanings. The upcoming election is being closely monitored by international organizations due to concerns about the reliability of the electoral process.