“Donald Trump announced his intention to pardon the ex-president of Honduras Hernandez, who was sentenced to 45 years for drug trafficking.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Juan Orlando Hernandez is being extradited to the United States to face drug-trafficking charges. Photo: Getty Images Source: Financial TimesTrump on his social network Truth Social
Trump’s direct speech: “I will grant a full and comprehensive pardon to former President Juan Orlando Hernandez.”
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Details: Trump noted that “a lot of people that I respect very much” told him that Hernandez “was treated very cruelly and unfairly.”
Hernández served as the president of Honduras for two consecutive terms, from 2014 to 2022. He was arrested a few weeks after he left the chair of the head of state. In 2024, a federal court in New York found him guilty of facilitating the importation of more than 400 tons of cocaine into the United States. The ex-politician was sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Analysts note that the pardon decision contrasts sharply with Trump’s official rhetoric about the “mission to combat drug smuggling.” In particular, it runs counter to his high-profile campaign against drug trafficking from Venezuela, in which Washington launches missile strikes on ships in the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean.
To block drug trafficking, Trump ordered a significant increase in the naval presence in the region. The fleet group includes the newest and most modern US aircraft carrier, a nuclear fast submarine, a special purpose vessel, a dozen other warships, more than 14,000 military personnel, as well as fifth generation F-35 fighter jets. This military deployment is also seen as a tool to pressure the regime of Venezuelan authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro.
However, in the case of Honduras, Trump is guided by other political motives. He claims that Rixie Moncada’s victory in Sunday’s election will allow “Maduro and his narco-terrorists to seize another country.”
Trump also criticized another candidate, Salvador Nasrallah, calling him a “borderline communist” whose only goal is to take votes away from Nasr “Tito” Asfoura.
“Tito will be a great president and the United States will work closely with her to ensure the success of Honduras to its full potential,” Trump wrote on his social network.
For reference: A strategically important US military base is located in Honduras, home to about 10 million people.
Hernandez, whom Trump plans to fire, won a second term in 2017 amid widespread fraud allegations that sparked bloody protests across the country.
Earlier this week, Trump already took an unusual step for American diplomacy, directly calling for a vote for Asfour, since, according to experts, the gap between the candidates remains minimal and the outcome of the race is unpredictable.