Trump pledges pardon for ex-Honduras president ahead of vote

Former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández was convicted in the United States of drug trafficking and firearms offenses; Trump says he will pardon him as the Honduran election nears.

In a social media post on Friday, former U.S. president Donald Trump announced plans to pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, the former Honduran president found guilty in New York of drug trafficking offenses and gun charges. He claimed Hernández was treated unfairly during the case.

Backstory: Hernández's case

Hernández was convicted in March 2024 of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and of possessing firearms. He received a 45-year prison sentence after being extradited to the United States in April 2022 to face charges tied to a large narcotics trafficking operation.

Election race in Honduras

The general election in Honduras features several candidates. Nasry Tito Asfura, a former mayor of the capital city Tegucigalpa, leads the conservative National Party. Other contenders include Rixi Moncada of the Libre party and Salvador Nasralla from the Liberal Party.

Trump criticized Moncada and Nasralla on social media, labeling Nasralla as borderline Communist and accusing him of trying to split the vote. He praised Asfura for defending democracy and for opposing policies associated with Venezuela's government.

Regional politics and U.S. actions

The former president's remarks come amid broader regional tensions, where left-leaning governments maintain ties with Venezuela. The United States has argued that Maduro's regime is connected to drug trafficking and has used anti-drug actions in the region to justify military moves in nearby waters. Some observers view these actions as political leverage rather than purely security measures.

In Honduras, President Xiomara Castro, who has led since 2022, has strengthened relations with Cuba and Venezuela while continuing cooperation with the United States, including a longstanding extradition treaty. The U.S. maintains a regional base in Honduras to support operations against organized crime.

Maritime strikes and the legality debate

Since August, U.S. forces have intercepted ships suspected of drug smuggling, a campaign that has reportedly resulted in more than 80 deaths. Officials describe the operations as dismantling narcotics networks; however, legal experts question the legality and require stronger evidence that targeted vessels carried drugs.

Expert comment: A regional policy analyst notes that high-profile pardons illustrate how U.S. policy intersects with Latin American politics and can shape voter preferences. The analyst also cautions about the political timing and legal basis of such moves.

Short recap

Overall, the proposed pardon blurs lines between criminal justice, diplomacy, and electoral politics in Central America. The episode highlights how U.S. anti-drug efforts and democracy rhetoric influence Honduras' political landscape and bilateral ties. With multiple candidates in the race, future policy and drug-crime strategies will be closely watched.