WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. — In a surprising announcement, former President Donald Trump revealed on Friday that he plans to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez. Hernandez was convicted in 2024 on serious charges related to drug trafficking and weapons, resulting in a hefty 45-year prison sentence. Trump took to social media to explain his decision, stating that “according to many people that I greatly respect,” Hernandez was “treated very harshly and unfairly.”
In March of last year, Hernandez faced a U.S. court where he was found guilty of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States. Hernandez served two terms as the leader of Honduras, a Central American nation with a population of approximately 10 million people. Since his conviction, he has been appealing the ruling while incarcerated at the U.S. Penitentiary in Hazelton, West Virginia.
Following Trump’s announcement, Hernandez’s family gathered on the steps of their home in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, where they knelt in prayer, expressing gratitude that Hernandez would soon be reunited with them after nearly four years of separation. This was the same residence from which Honduran authorities extradited him in 2022, just months after he left office to stand trial in the United States.
“We had just been able to speak with Hernandez and tell him the news,” said his wife, García. “He still didn’t know about this news, and believe me, when we shared it, his voice broke with emotion.” García thanked Trump, asserting that the former president had corrected an injustice and claiming that Hernandez’s prosecution was part of a coordinated effort by drug traffickers and the “radical left” seeking vengeance against him.
While the family has not been informed of the exact timing of Hernandez’s return, García expressed hope that it would occur “in the coming days.” Hernandez’s lawyer, Renato C. Stabile, also expressed gratitude for Trump’s actions, stating, “A great injustice has been righted, and we are so hopeful for the future partnership of the United States and Honduras. Thank you, President Trump, for making sure that justice was served. We look forward to President Hernandez’s triumphant return to Honduras.”
Another lawyer representing Hernandez, Sabrina Shroff, chose not to comment on the matter. Trump’s post about Hernandez was part of a broader message endorsing Nasry “Tito” Asfura for the presidency of Honduras. Trump indicated that the United States would support the country under Asfura’s leadership. However, he warned that if Asfura loses the upcoming election, “the United States will not be throwing good money after bad, because a wrong leader can only bring catastrophic results to a country, no matter which country it is.”
Asfura, 67, is making his second bid for the presidency as a candidate of the conservative National Party. He previously served as the mayor of Tegucigalpa and has vowed to address Honduras’ pressing infrastructure needs. However, he has faced accusations of embezzling public funds, which he vehemently denies. Alongside Asfura, two other candidates are likely contenders in the presidential race: Rixi Moncada, who previously served as finance and defense secretary for the incumbent democratic socialist Libre party, and Salvador Nasralla, a former television personality making his fourth presidential bid as the candidate for the Liberal Party.
Trump has framed the upcoming election in Honduras as a critical test for democracy, suggesting in a separate post on Truth Social that if Asfura loses, the nation could descend into a situation similar to that of Venezuela under its leader, Nicolás Maduro. Trump has been actively applying pressure on Maduro, including ordering military strikes against boats suspected of drug trafficking and increasing the U.S. military presence in the Caribbean with advanced warships like the USS Gerald R. Ford.
While the former president has not ruled out potential military or covert actions against Venezuela, he has also expressed openness to dialogue with Maduro. Outgoing Honduran President Xiomara Castro has adopted a leftist stance but maintained a pragmatic approach to relations with the U.S., receiving visits from notable U.S. officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson.
President Castro has even moderated her earlier threats to end Honduras’ extradition treaty and military cooperation with the United States. Under her administration, Honduras has facilitated the deportation of its citizens from the U.S. and served as a transit point for deported Venezuelans returning to their home country.
In a show of support for Asfura, Argentine President Javier Milei, a vocal admirer of Trump, expressed his backing on social media, stating, “I fully support Tito Asfura, who is the candidate who best represents the opposition to the leftist tyrants who have destroyed Honduras.”
___ Sherman reported from Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Associated Press reporter Mike Sisak in Lancaster, Pennsylvania contributed to this report.