Trump's vow to pardon jailed ex-Honduran president sparks backlash

US President Donald Trump has sparked outrage by announcing his intention to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who is serving a 45-year sentence in US prison for drug trafficking. The president tweeted that he would issue an order granting Hernández a full pardon, citing concerns over the former leader's treatment by the US justice system.

Hernández was convicted in 2024 of conspiring to import 400 tons of cocaine into the US and was jailed in Manhattan last year. Trump linked the pardon to his support for conservative candidate Nasry “Tito” Asfura, who is running in Honduras' upcoming election, warning that US backing could be cut if Asfura loses.

Critics argue that Trump's decision undermines his tough anti-drug trafficking policy in Latin America and appears to contradict his own rhetoric. The pardon has also raised concerns about Trump's use of executive clemency, with some experts labeling it "nothing short of catastrophic" and a threat to the credibility of the US in international affairs.

The move is seen as an attempt by Trump to intervene in Honduras' upcoming election, which could undermine the country's leftist government and boost Hernández's party. Critics argue that this amounts to meddling in foreign politics, particularly given the former leader's conviction on serious drug trafficking charges.

Public reaction has been swift and overwhelmingly negative, with many politicians and experts denouncing the pardon as a shameless attempt to curry favor with the US conservative base. Democrats have called Trump out for his hypocrisy, pointing out that he claims to be fighting narco-trafficking while granting clemency to a notorious facilitator of drug trafficking.

The pardon remains pending, but its implications are already clear: it will nullify Hernández's conviction and sentence, freeing him from prison. The move is expected to have significant consequences for US-Honduras relations, with some analysts warning that it could destabilize the country's government and undermine trust in Trump's administration.

can u believe this?? trump thinks he can just pardon any old dude who's done serious crimes & expect ppl 2 be all like "cool i guess" meanwhile hes got democrats & experts saying "um no thanks we dont appreciate the drama" plus whats up with him tryin 2 use politics as a way 2 get out of being held accountable for his own actions? its like he's sayin "hey im the big cheese but dont bother checkin on me"?

This pardon is just another thing that shows how out of touch Donald Trump is . He's basically saying that if you're rich and influential, you can get away with serious crimes like drug trafficking and then try to manipulate elections to further your own agenda . It's not only hypocritical, but it also puts US credibility in international affairs at risk . What's next? Is he gonna pardon some other corrupt leader who's been making a profit off the back of Honduras' suffering? The fact that Trump is doing this just days before an election in Honduras is no coincidence - he wants to throw his weight behind whoever he thinks can help him, even if it means undermining democracy . This pardon will have far-reaching consequences for Honduras and the US, but let's be real, it'll mostly just embolden more corrupt leaders and make a mockery of our justice system .

omg, this is so shady! I mean, come on, a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking and he's getting a full pardon? That just doesn't add up. And what's with the politics? Trying to curry favor with the conservative base by messing around in Honduras' election? It's like Trump is trying to prove a point, but it's just gonna backfire. The Democrats are right, he's all talk when it comes to narco-trafficking. And what about the US credibility in international affairs? This pardon is already causing some major waves. I hope this doesn't affect our relationships with Honduras and other countries in Central America. The man needs to get his act together before we start to trust him again

Ugh dont even know what to say about this like how can he do something like this after all the yrs of fighting against narco-trafficking in latin america?? its so whack and also kinda shady that hes tryna pardon his buddy for drug trafficking charges cuz hes losing in the election

I'm not surprised about this . Trump always had a reputation for being a master manipulator, and now he's just using his pardon power to further his own agenda. Like, who needs rules or fairness when you're the president? And what's next? Is he gonna start pardoning all his pals in jail too? It's just a huge embarrassment for the US, especially with Honduras' election coming up and Trump trying to swoop in like some kinda hero. Newsflash, Donald: we're all watching your every move... and it's not looking good

this pardon thing is like he thinks he can just do whatever he wants and no one will notice... like, what about all those people who are actually doing time for drug trafficking? It doesn't seem fair that some rich guy or former head of state gets a free pass, especially when they've been caught red-handed. And now US-Honduras relations are gonna take a hit because of his own ego? it's like he thinks the US is just gonna roll over and let him do whatever he wants... that's not how democracy works, dude.

OMG this pardon is like totally insane ! Trump thinks he can just waltz in here and grant someone a full pardon for serving 45 years of hard time? Like, what even is the logic behind that? He's basically saying the US justice system is too harsh, but only for certain people . And now his own party is all over it, like "Yaaas, Trump, you're so cool" .

But let's get real, this pardon is gonna have serious consequences . It'll destabilize Honduras and undermine trust in the US, and for what? So Trump can stick it to the Honduran leftists? Like, didn't he just promise to help them with narco-trafficking? This whole thing reeks of corruption and cronyism.

And honestly, I'm so over Trump's hypocrisy . He claims to be a law and order guy, but when it comes down to it, he's just another politician playing politics . The US should be setting an example for the world, not undermining its own credibility with some shady pardon deal . Can't wait to see what other shenanigans Trump has up his sleeve .

Come on, 45 years for 400 tons of coke? That's just ridiculous! Trump is just trying to score points with his base by throwing a bone to this dude. Newsflash, Donald: pardoning a convicted felon doesn't make you a hero, it makes you look like a joke. And what's with the link to this Asfura guy? Is he a real candidate or just some wannabe Trump surrogate? This whole thing reeks of desperation and a complete disregard for due process. Mark my words, this is gonna backfire big time for Trump.

I don't get why Trump gotta do this . I mean, Hernández got a 45-year sentence for serious stuff, but Trump decides to just wipe it clean like it never happened? It's just so messed up. And now he's saying it's because of his buddy Nasry Asfura? Like, come on, Trump. You're not fooling anyone with this.

And what really gets my goat is how this reflects on the US as a whole. I mean, we're supposed to be that country that's all about justice and fairness, but Trump's actions show us to be just as corrupt and biased as any other country in Latin America. It's embarrassing, TBH .

I'm also worried about what this means for Honduras' election. If Trump's meddling actually tips the scales towards Hernández's party, that could have serious consequences for the country. And let's not forget, Hernandez is a convicted drug trafficker . He shouldn't be getting a free pass just because of politics.

I wish Trump would think about what he's doing before making such drastic moves. It's gonna take a lot to repair the damage that this pardon does to US credibility and relationships with other countries .

OMG, I'm literally shocked by this decision ! Like, I get that Trump wants to support his friend Asfura, but pardoning someone who's been found guilty of serious drug trafficking is just crazy . It makes him look like he's more interested in politics than actually doing what's best for the US or Honduras.

And can we talk about how this undermines the whole "war on drugs" thing? Like, I know it's a complex issue and all, but Trump was supposed to be a strong advocate against narco-trafficking, not giving clemency to someone who basically made a living off of it . It's just confusing to me.

I'm also worried about what this means for US-Honduras relations . If Hernández is released and he goes on to win the election, which is already looking sketchy with Trump's backing...it could be a disaster . Trump needs to reconsider his decision ASAP before it's too late .

omg this guy trump is crazy what's going on with him?? so he's trying to pardon this dude who's been convicted of serious crime and now he's saying he did it cuz of some election in honduras? that makes no sense at all... i feel bad for the victims of his alleged drug trafficking he must have thought he could just get away with it but pardon him?? i don't get why anyone would do that

OMG, can you believe this?! Trump thinks he's above the law now? Like, seriously, 45 years in prison for drug trafficking? And then just because his buddy Nasry "Tito" Asfura might lose the election, he throws him a bone... pardon. It's like, so not cool. The guy is basically saying that if you're a friend of mine, you don't have to follow the law. I mean, what even is that? This is gonna be super bad for Honduras and US relations too. Trump needs to get his facts straight and stop playing politics with people's lives.

I mean, come on... Trump's just trying to help out a guy who's been treated unfairly by the system, right? Hernández is serving a pretty long sentence, but what if he didn't do it? What if he was set up or framed? We shouldn't be so quick to assume someone's guilty without all the facts. And let's be real, Trump's not exactly swimming in popularity right now... He's gotta try to do something to boost his rep, and this is one way to do it. Plus, Asfura is a solid candidate, and Trump's just trying to help out a friend... It's all about politics, folks!

omg u won't believe this ! trump is literally pardoning a drug lord?! like what even is this? i mean i get it he thinks its a good move for his "conservative base" but come on, doesnt he care about the stability of honduras and the people who are actually suffering from narco-trafficking? its just another example of trump being all over the place with no logic lol . this is like totally the opposite of what he was saying before when he was all "i'm gonna fight narco-trafficking" now hes basically giving a free pass to someone who got caught red handed . i dont even know how anyone can take him seriously anymore

I'm not surprised by Trump's decision to grant a pardon to Hernández, considering his propensity for unconventional approaches to policy-making. The move seems to further erode the US's credibility on issues like international justice and human rights . It's also worth noting that this pardon may be seen as a strategic attempt to influence Honduras' upcoming election, which could have far-reaching implications for regional stability . Trump's actions will likely be perceived as a brazen attempt to curry favor with his conservative base, while undermining the principles of justice and accountability .

Ugh , this pardon thingy is getting out of hand! I mean, come on, 45 years in prison for 400 tons of cocaine? That's a no-brainer, right? But wait, it gets worse... now Trump wants to use his executive powers to manipulate the election in Honduras and help his buddy "Tito" Asfura win. Like, hello, isn't that just an excuse for election interference?! And what really grinds my gears is how Trump is basically saying, "Hey, I'm a tough guy on narco-trafficking... but let's make an exception for my pals." It's just not cool, you know?

I'm shocked, can you believe this? Trump thinks he can just waltz in there and pardon someone who's been convicted of serious crimes like drug trafficking? It's not only wrong but also undermines his whole anti-drug trafficking thing which is supposed to be a big deal for him. I mean, what's next? Pardoning other serious felons because they're supporters of his party?

This pardon is just another example of Trump's ego getting in the way of making good decisions. He's trying to play politics with someone else's country and it's not going to work. The fact that he's doing this just days before an election in Honduras shows how desperate he is to get re-elected, even if it means undermining US credibility abroad.

The hypocrisy on display here is staggering. Trump claims to be fighting narco-trafficking but then gives a full pardon to someone who's been convicted of the same thing. It's like he's got two different rules for himself and that's just not right. The US justice system needs to stand firm on this one, no matter what Trump wants.

OMG, this pardon thingy is really bad news ... I can feel so angry on behalf of all those who are suffering from narco-trafficking in Latin America ... how could Trump do this to Juan Orlando Hernández and Honduras? It's like he's playing with fire, using executive clemency as a way to manipulate the election results ... I get why people are upset, it feels so hypocritical for him to be fighting narco-trafficking while giving a free pass to someone who was convicted of serious crimes ... what does this mean for the future of US-Honduras relations? Will Trump's actions lead to more instability and mistrust in his administration?

this pardon decision by trump is super worrying , i mean, he's literally giving a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking to someone who's been convicted of conspiring to import massive amounts of cocaine into the us... that's like, super serious charges right there! and now he's doing it just because trump wants to support one of his buddies running in honduras? it's like he's undermining all this anti-drug trafficking rhetoric he's been spouting. and what really gets me is how swift the backlash has been... everyone from democrats to experts are speaking out against this, saying trump is just trying to curry favor with his conservative base. anyway, i'm keeping an eye on this one, it could get ugly for us-honduras relations