In a surprising move that has shocked international diplomats, former US President Donald Trump has announced he will give a full pardon to Juan Orlando Hernández. The former Honduran president is currently serving a 45-year prison sentence in the United States for drug and weapons crimes. Trump made this announcement on his social media platform just days before an important general election in Honduras. In his statement, he also strongly supported a conservative candidate and directly connected future American support to the election's result.
Trump explained his reasons in a post on Friday. He claimed that the imprisoned former leader has been treated too harshly and unfairly. This view is the complete opposite of the one presented by US federal prosecutors. During the trial earlier this year, which ended with a conviction in March and a sentencing in June, authorities described Hernández's time as president as deeply corrupt. They proved that he had taken millions of dollars in bribes to protect drug traffickers. This helped move huge amounts of cocaine toward the United States. One prosecutor famously stated that Hernández had built a direct route for drugs into the country.
Political experts see the timing of Trump's promise as a direct attempt to influence Honduras's internal politics. The former US leader used his statement to show his support for Nasry "Tito" Asfura, the conservative National Party's presidential candidate. At the same time, he criticized other candidates. More importantly, he set a clear condition for future relations between the two countries. He said that American help would depend on Asfura winning the election, warning that support would be withdrawn if Hondurans chose the "wrong Leader."
This announcement adds a complicated and unpredictable element to an already tense election. Hernández, who was sent to the U.S. in 2022, was a key partner for the Trump administration, especially on matters of migration and security. The promised pardon seems to redefine that relationship and makes people wonder what it says about holding powerful leaders responsible for corruption.
The situation also creates a noticeable contradiction for Trump. His political image has long been built on a promise to be extremely tough on drug cartels and traffickers. Therefore, offering forgiveness to a former head of state convicted of helping the very trade he promised to stop sends a very mixed message. As Hondurans get ready to vote, the world is watching to see how this unusual intervention by a foreign political figure will affect the country's democracy and its future relationship with the United States.