With political tensions escalating in Central America, the recent announcement by former President Donald Trump to pardon Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former leader of Honduras, has stirred considerable discussion just ahead of the nation’s close presidential election. This endorsement not only reflects Trump’s political maneuvering but also raises questions about the implications for U.S.-Honduras relations and the ongoing struggles against drug trafficking within the region.
Washington, DC – United States President Donald Trump has declared his intention to pardon Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former leader of Honduras, just days before a closely contested presidential election in the Central American nation. The announcement, made on a Friday, aligns closely with the impending vote and Trump’s endorsement of conservative National Party candidate Nasry “Tito” Asfura.
Hernandez, who served as president from 2014 to 2022 and was the last successful presidential candidate of the National Party, currently faces a 45-year prison sentence in the U.S. on drug trafficking charges, following his extradition from Honduras. In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump described Hernandez’s treatment as “very harsh and unfair,” citing the support of “many people that I greatly respect,” underscoring the potential ramifications of this political endorsement.
In the backdrop of the election, Asfura is vying against four opponents, amid a landscape marred by scandals, with no clear frontrunner emerging ahead of the polls. Trump has issued a stark warning, stating that a loss for Asfura could lead to a diminished U.S. support for Honduras, a remark that echoes a similar sentiment he expressed regarding Argentine politician Javier Milei just before Argentina’s October election.
“If he doesn’t win, the United States will not be throwing good money after bad,” Trump commented, implying that an ineffective leadership could result in detrimental outcomes for the country. The U.S. President and several right-wing figures have criticized candidates like Rixi Moncada of the left-leaning LIBRE party and Salvador Nasralla of the center-right Liberal Party, alleging links to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Both Moncada and Nasralla have firmly dismissed these claims, which arise amidst Trump’s heightened focus on Maduro. This includes an increased U.S. military presence in the region and discussions of potential land operations to counteract narcotic smuggling.
The decision to pardon Hernandez, however, stirs discomfort regarding the administration’s promise to combat drug cartels and curb narcotics trafficking into the United States. This commitment has previously led to the designation of several cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations” while also orchestrating strikes against alleged drug smugglers in international waters. Human rights organizations have condemned these military actions, characterizing them as extrajudicial killings that potentially violate both national and international laws.
During Hernandez’s trial, prosecutors detailed his collaboration with powerful drug cartels, alleging that over 400 tonnes of cocaine were trafficked to the U.S. as a result. His ties to the Sinaloa cartel, one of the criminal organizations labeled as “terrorists” by the Trump administration, illustrate a troubling reality. Hernandez reportedly utilized cartel bribes amounting to millions of dollars to fuel his political ascent.
At the time of his sentencing, former U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland highlighted the gravity of Hernandez’s actions, stating he used his presidency to run Honduras as a “narco-state,” allowing violent drug traffickers to operate with near impunity and causing severe repercussions for both the Honduran and U.S. populations.
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