On November 28, 2025, President Trump made headlines by announcing a full pardon for former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández. Hernández, sentenced to 45 years in prison on drug trafficking and firearms charges, has been seen as a key player in the narco-state that Honduras allegedly became during his presidency. According to U.S. law enforcement, Hernández’s actions contributed significantly to the region’s drug-related issues. Although he is currently serving his sentence in a U.S. penitentiary, he continues to appeal his conviction.
Trump’s pardon has reignited discussions surrounding U.S. involvement in Honduran politics, particularly given the historical ties through the National Party. Hernández’s lawyer expressed gratitude for the pardon, viewing it as a corrective measure and hoping for strengthened U.S.-Honduras relations. Alongside this announcement, Trump endorsed Nasry Tito Asfura, the conservative candidate from the National Party in the upcoming Honduran election. He indicated that U.S. support would wane if a different candidate were to win, signaling a clear expectation of alignment with U.S. interests if Asfura takes office.
Asfura, described as a long-time conservative politician and former mayor of Tegucigalpa, is facing off against Rixi Moncada and Salvador Nasralla. Moncada, a significant player in the ruling Libre party, has deep connections to the Honduran left and has previously served under Manuel Zelaya and Xiomara Castro. The Libre party has aligned itself with leftist governments in the region, raising alarms in Washington. Trump perceives a potential Libre victory as a pathway to increased ties with nations like Cuba and Venezuela and a shift away from traditional U.S. cooperation.
Notably, Asfura’s campaign is linked to Trump’s broader strategy to counter leftist influence in the region. Trump’s rhetoric reveals concerns about Castro’s government after it severed ties with Taiwan in favor of China, complicating Honduras’ position on the global stage and adversely affecting U.S. relations. This pivot, along with the endorsement from Argentine President Javier Milei, underscores the global implications of Honduran politics.
The political landscape is further complicated by changes in U.S. immigration policy. In mid-2025, the Department of Homeland Security ended Temporary Protected Status for around 70,000 Hondurans. This move comes at a sensitive time, as the U.S. also reinstated asylum transfer arrangements, albeit with exclusions for Honduran nationals and unaccompanied minors. The introduction of a ten percent tariff on Honduran exports to the U.S. illustrates a strategic means of leverage in trade and migration, amplifying the pressure on the Central American nation to align with American policies.
Trump’s policies indicate a focused approach to regional stability, emphasizing migration control, anti-drug operations, and a firm stance against leftist governments seen as threats to U.S. interests. His administration has not hesitated to deploy military operations against drug smuggling vessels in the Caribbean, with additional military actions left on the table as potential responses to growing challenges from leaders like Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela.
As these dynamics unfold, Trump’s actions in Honduras reflect a strategic use of both diplomatic and economic tools to reinforce U.S. objectives throughout Latin America. With pardons and endorsements serving as instruments of influence, the potential consequences for Honduran governance could resonate well beyond its borders, reshaping the region’s political landscape and U.S. relations for years to come.
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