Trump to Pardon Former Honduran President Serving 45-Year Sentence in U.S.

Expresses Support for Right-Wing Candidate Ahead of Honduran Presidential Election

On November 28 (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who is currently serving a prison sentence for participating in the smuggling of narcotics into the United States.

President Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that he would "grant a full pardon" to former President Hernandez.

Former President Orlando Hernandez. Photo by Yonhap News

Former President Hernandez was arrested immediately after leaving office in February 2022 and was extradited to the United States and indicted in April of the same year.

The U.S. prosecution stated that, starting from his time as a member of parliament in 2004 and continuing through his presidency (2014-2022), Hernandez colluded with drug cartels to import narcotics from countries such as Colombia and Venezuela and facilitate their entry into the United States. Authorities also confirmed that he used bribes from drug traffickers as campaign funds.

In June of last year, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison by the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, New York, and is currently serving his sentence.

President Trump, who has taken a hardline stance against drug smuggling from Central and South America, is being seen as making an unusual move by declaring a pardon for an individual convicted of drug-related crimes.

During his first term, President Trump maintained a close cooperative relationship with former President Hernandez, who was a conservative and pro-American leader.

Additionally, the fact that Hernandez's arrest, extradition, indictment, and sentencing all occurred during the presidency of former President Joe Biden is being interpreted as a factor that influenced this decision to grant a pardon.

Regarding the pardon, President Trump argued, "According to many people whom I deeply trust, former President Hernandez was treated very harshly and unfairly."

Furthermore, just two days before the Honduran presidential election scheduled for the 30th, President Trump once again expressed his support for right-wing candidate Tito Asfura, leader of the National Party.

He stated, "If Tito Asfura is elected, the United States will actively support him because we trust his policies and his role for the people of Honduras. If he does not win, the United States will not provide significant funding."

Having begun his second term in January of this year, President Trump has been actively seeking to expand U.S. influence across the Americas and surrounding regions. This approach has been described as the "Trump-style Monroe Doctrine," or the "Donroe Doctrine," reflecting its prominence.

Trump's recent remarks regarding the Honduran presidential election are also being interpreted within this broader strategic framework.