Trump Intends to Pardon Former Honduran President Convicted of Drug Trafficking

Fri Dec 05 2025 15:48:49 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a move that has raised eyebrows, former President Donald Trump announced his intention to pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, the ex-president of Honduras who was convicted of drug trafficking. Trump described Hernández's treatment as 'harsh and unfair' and expressed support for the upcoming Honduran elections.

Donald Trump is set to pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras, following his conviction for drug trafficking in a U.S. court. Trump, in a recent post, criticized the legal treatment Hernández received and also backed presidential candidate Tito Asfura in Honduras's general elections. Hernández, who was sentenced to 45 years, was extradited to the U.S. for his involvement in drug trafficking and firearms offenses.

US President Donald Trump has announced plans to pardon the former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted of drug trafficking charges in a U.S. court last year.

Trump shared the announcement via a post on Truth Social, congratulating Hernández and claiming he was 'treated very harshly and unfairly.'

Hernández was found guilty in March 2024 of conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and possession of machine guns, leading to a 45-year prison sentence.

In the same message, Trump expressed his support for conservative candidate Tito Asfura, who is running in the upcoming general election in Honduras on Sunday.

Hernández, who served as president from 2014 to 2022 and was a member of the National Party, was extradited to the U.S. in April 2022 to face trial for his role in a drug trafficking organization that purportedly transported hundreds of tons of cocaine to the U.S. He was convicted after a two-year trial.

Polls indicate the upcoming election is competitive, featuring Asfura, former defense minister Rixi Moncada, and television host Salvador Nasralla. Trump has criticized Moncada and Nasralla, labeling Nasralla as 'a borderline Communist' and expressing support for Asfura as a defender of democracy against Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro.

Trump's administration previously accused Maduro of leading a drug cartel, linking him to narcotrafficking activities in the region.

While Honduras is currently under the leadership of President Xiomara Castro of the LIBRE Party, she has maintained a cooperative relationship with the U.S., continuing an extradition treaty and hosting a U.S. military base focused on combating organized crime.

In a related move, the U.S. launched an extensive counternarcotics operation aimed at intercepting drug shipments allegedly transporting drugs from Venezuela, resulting in numerous casualties amidst legal scrutiny regarding the operation's justification.