President Donald Trump announced Friday that he will pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was convicted in 2024 on drug trafficking and weapons charges and sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Hernandez led Honduras from 2014 to 2022 and was extradited to the U.S. shortly after leaving office under current President Xiomara Castro.
Trump explained his decision on social media, saying Hernandez was “treated very harshly and unfairly” according to people he “greatly respect[s].”
The former president’s conviction stemmed from a U.S. court ruling that he conspired to import 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S. during his tenure. Hernandez has been appealing his conviction while serving time at the U.S. Penitentiary, Hazelton, in West Virginia.
Following Trump’s announcement, Hernandez’s wife and two daughters were seen kneeling in prayer outside their home in Tegucigalpa, expressing gratitude for his impending return.
“He still didn’t know of this news and believe me, when we shared it, his voice broke with emotion,” said family spokesperson Ana García.
Hernandez’s legal team, led by Renato C. Stabile, hailed Trump’s pardon as a correction of a “great injustice” and expressed hope for the future U.S.-Honduras partnership.
“Thank you, President Trump, for making sure that justice was served. We look forward to President Hernandez’s triumphant return to Honduras,” Stabile said.
The pardon coincides with the ongoing Honduran presidential election, where Trump has publicly endorsed Nasry “Tito” Asfura, the conservative National Party candidate and former mayor of Tegucigalpa, according to the Daily Mail.
Trump framed the election as a pivotal moment for Honduras, warning that a loss for Asfura could result in the country following the path of Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro.
Trump’s social media posts also criticized other candidates, including Rixi Moncada of the incumbent democratic socialist Libre party, labeling her a “communist,” and Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party, accusing him of splitting opposition votes.
Trump’s pardon and election commentary suggest a broader strategy to influence Honduran politics and maintain U.S. influence in Central America. The president also highlighted his administration’s commitment to confronting leftist governments in the region, emphasizing Honduras as a test of democracy and stability.
The Hernandez pardon has drawn sharp contrasts with former President Joe Biden’s stance.
Biden’s Attorney General Merrick Garland previously condemned Hernandez for “abusing his power to support one of the largest and most violent drug trafficking conspiracies in the world.”
Trump, however, has signaled that he views Hernandez’s prosecution as politically motivated and unfair.
Hernandez’s daughters have been actively campaigning for his release, further amplifying pressure on U.S. authorities. Trump’s move effectively nullifies the conviction’s impact, allowing Hernandez to return to Honduras after nearly four years in U.S. custody.
The pardon has also stirred international attention, with figures like Argentine President Javier Milei publicly endorsing Asfura, aligning with Trump’s position in the Honduran election.
Meanwhile, the Honduran government under Xiomara Castro has maintained a pragmatic approach toward Washington, balancing cooperation with sovereignty concerns.
Trump’s decision represents one of the most high-profile foreign pardons in recent U.S. history, combining domestic political signaling with international influence, while marking a dramatic reversal for Hernandez, whose legal troubles had dominated headlines across Central America and the U.S.
