US President Donald Trump has announced that he will pardon Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras, who was sentenced to 45 years in prison for drug trafficking and weapons charges. In a statement posted on social media, Trump claimed that Hernandez had been “treated very harshly and unfairly,” citing the opinions of “many people that I greatly respect.” Hernandez was convicted in March 2024 in a US court for conspiring to import cocaine into the United States.
After serving two terms as the leader of Honduras, a nation of approximately 10 million people, Hernandez has been appealing his conviction while incarcerated at the US Penitentiary, Hazelton in West Virginia. His pardon marks a significant turn in his legal battles, as he has spent nearly four years separated from his family. Following the announcement, Hernandez’s wife, Ana García Carias, and their children gathered at their home in Tegucigalpa to express their gratitude, kneeling in prayer. It was at this same residence that Honduran authorities apprehended him in 2022, shortly after he left office, leading to his extradition to the United States for trial.
Carias thanked Trump for what she described as a rectification of an injustice. She alleged that Hernandez’s prosecution was a coordinated effort by drug traffickers and the “radical left” to exact revenge on her husband. This pardoning decision coincides with a broader political context in Honduras, where Trump has endorsed Nasry “Tito” Asfura, a candidate for the presidency from the conservative National Party. Asfura, 67, is making his second presidential bid and has pledged to address the country’s pressing infrastructure needs. However, he has faced accusations of embezzling public funds, which he denies.
Political Implications for Honduras
Trump has framed the upcoming Honduran elections as a critical test for democracy. In a separate post on Truth Social, he suggested that if Asfura loses, Honduras could face a fate similar to that of Venezuela, potentially falling under the influence of President Nicolas Maduro. The US president has increased military presence in the Caribbean, including the deployment of warships like the USS Gerald R. Ford, as part of a broader strategy to counteract Maduro’s influence.
Outgoing Honduran President Xiomara Castro, who has adopted a leftist approach, has maintained a pragmatic relationship with the Trump administration. Despite her political stance, Castro has refrained from following through on threats to terminate the country’s extradition treaty and military cooperation with the United States.
Trump’s decision to pardon Hernandez and his backing of Asfura highlight the complex interplay of US-Honduran relations, where political alliances and law enforcement issues are deeply intertwined. As the elections approach, the outcome will not only impact Honduras but may also reshape the dynamics of US influence in the region.
