United States President Donald Trump said today, Friday (28), that he will grant a pardon to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who is serving a 45-year sentence in a US prison on charges of drug trafficking and illegal weapons possession.
When making this statement, which is in line with the interventionist position adopted by the US government in Latin America, Trump confirmed his support for candidate Nasri Asfoura, from the conservative National Party. “If he doesn’t win, the United States won’t waste the money,” the Republican said.
On Wednesday (26), the American had already spoken about the violent conflict in Central America, indicating that he could work with Asfoura to combat drug trafficking. “I hope the people of Honduras vote for freedom and democracy and elect Tito Asvora as president!” He wrote on his platform.
Hondurans go to the polls next Sunday (30) in an election with unpredictable results – with opinion polls showing Asfoura, the former mayor of the capital, Tegucigalpa, practically tied with former Defense Minister Rexy Moncada, of the ruling leftist Libre party, and with TV presenter Salvador Nasrallah, of the centrist Liberal Party.
Since 2021, the country has been ruled by leftist President Xiomara Castro, who has established close relations with Cuba and Venezuela. Both countries are mired in deep economic and rights crises and are governed by leftist leaders that the Trump administration seeks to combat.
The Republican wrote in his post that the ruling party’s candidate, Moncada, is a communist, and Nasrallah is a “front communist” running to win votes in Asfoura. None of the candidates identified themselves in this way.
In his post, Trump asked: “Will Maduro and his drug terrorists control another country like they did with Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela?”, noting that Asfoura will fight against the Venezuelan dictator. The United States accuses Nicolas Maduro of having links to drug trafficking and criminal groups, which the leader denies.
The Asfoura Party established a close partnership with Washington under the government of former President Hernandez, who ruled from 2014 to 2022. The politician, who was arrested shortly after leaving office, is serving a 45-year prison sentence in the United States.
The candidate who will obtain a simple majority on Sunday will rule the country from 2026 to 2030. Some political analysts fear that more than one candidate will claim victory, given the narrow dispute. The Organization of American States and the US State Department expressed concern about the electoral process in Honduras and said they were monitoring it closely.