MS-13 and Trump Backed the Same Presidential Candidate in Honduras

Honduras' Presidential Election Marred by MS-13 Intimidation, US President Trump's Backing for Candidate

Gang members from the notorious Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang went door-to-door in Honduras, intimidating voters into backing right-wing presidential candidate Nasry Asfura, whom U.S. President Donald Trump had endorsed ahead of the country's election. This tactic was reportedly used by MS-13 to prevent people from voting for the left-leaning party LIBRE.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that gang members would tell residents that if they voted for LIBRE, they would have to leave their homes or even face death. The intimidation was said to be widespread, with many residents fearing for their safety and choosing not to vote for the party.

Asfura's victory is still uncertain, but early results show him in a narrow lead over centrist Liberal Party candidate Salvador Nasralla. This is the second time that Trump has backed a candidate in Honduras; he had also pardoned former president Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted of drug trafficking charges and is now on the run.

The use of intimidation by MS-13 to influence the election is a concerning development for democracy in Honduras. The Honduran government has accused LIBRE of electoral irregularities, but many human rights investigators believe that organized crime groups like MS-13 were behind the intimidation.

For those living in areas controlled by gangs like MS-13, voting for certain parties can be a matter of life and death. Gang members closely monitor the movements of residents within their territories, often using co-opted or controlling mototaxi services to keep track of who comes and goes.

Trump's backing for Asfura has been seen as an attempt to undermine the left-leaning government in Honduras, which was established after a major shift in the country's politics. The U.S. president had previously threatened to cut off aid to Honduras if voters didn't elect Asfura, further fueling concerns about the role of foreign interference in the election.

Many Hondurans are now fearing for their safety and wondering what the future holds for democracy in their country.

this is so messed up ms-13 using intimidation tactics to stop people from voting for libre i dont know how democracy can even survive in honduras like trump backing asfura without thinking about the consequences of his actions its not cool and it makes me worried about the future of honduras

This is a super worrying situation in Honduras . I mean, MS-13 intimidating people to vote for a certain party? That's just not cool at all. It's like, you can't even go to the polling station without being scared . But at the same time, I think it's good that everyone is speaking out about this and trying to make a change.

I know Trump backing Asfura might seem like a bad thing, but let's try not to be too harsh on him, you know? He's just trying to do what he thinks is best for his country, even if we don't agree with it . And Asfura's victory is still up in the air, so we can't count him out yet .

What really worries me though is how this affects democracy in Honduras. If people are scared to vote for certain parties because of gangs, that's not right . We need to make sure everyone has a safe and fair chance to participate in the election. And if we can't do that, then something's seriously wrong .

omg what a beautiful display of voter intimidation like who needs democratic values when u got MS-13 at ur door stepping on ur toes asfura's lead is shaky cuz i guess you can't just strong-arm ppl into voting for u meanwhile trump thinks he's a real life dictator aid cutoffs are a great way to influence elections btw what happened 2 the libs who thought they had a shot?

Ugh, what's next? MS-13 showing up at your doorstep with a "Vote for me or you're toast" flyer ? This is like something out of a bad action movie. Trump thinks he's some kinda election whisperer, but really he's just enabling these gangs to run amok . And the Honduran government is just sitting back and letting this happen? Not exactly filling me with confidence in their democracy-building skills . I mean, if voting for LIBRE means risking your life, that's not a free election, that's a hostage situation . Can't we all just have a peaceful democratic process without the threat of gang violence and foreign interference?

This is so messed up . I mean, MS-13 intimidating people to vote for one party or another? That's just not right. It's like they're trying to control everyone's lives, you know? And Trump backing Asfura with all this leverage... it's like he's playing a big game of politics without considering the human cost.

I'm worried about what's happening in Honduras right now. I mean, people are literally scared to vote because they might lose their homes or even get hurt if they don't vote for Asfura. That's not democracy, that's just gang rule. And we're all supposed to be concerned about who gets power, but at what cost?

The thing is, sometimes you gotta find a middle ground and talk things out rather than resorting to these tactics. I'm all for Trump having an opinion on what's happening in Honduras, but backing a candidate with such a heavy hand? That just feels like it's undermining the whole democratic process.

Anyway, only time will tell how this all plays out, but one thing's for sure - things are getting pretty complicated over there

Ugh, this is so messed up ! MS-13 intimidating people into voting for who they want? That's just not right, you know? It's like, you have a right to vote for whoever you want without fear of gang violence or death threats . And now Trump is backing Asfura and basically saying it's okay for him to interfere with the election? No way, that's just shady .

I think what really gets me is that this is happening in Honduras, where people are already living in fear because of these gangs. It's like, don't they have enough to deal with without foreigners trying to influence their elections too? And what about all those people who didn't vote because they were scared? That's just not right .

I hope Asfura wins the election or whatever, but only if it was fair and free from interference. I don't want anyone to have to live in fear of their government or gangs for that matter .

omg what's going on in honduras ?! MS-13 intimidating people into voting for one candidate is just so wrong, you feel? it's like, democracy shouldn't be about fear & violence, it should be about making informed choices . and trump backing this guy asfura is like, super concerning... i mean, we all know how politics can get messy, but this is just taking it to a whole new level . if voters are too scared to vote for who they want, that's not democracy, that's more like authoritarianism . and what's with the aid threat from trump? does he really think that'll fix everything? it's all just so... worrying

I'm tellin' ya, it's just gettin' creepy, man . Gangs like MS-13 think they can just intimidate people into votin' for whoever they want? It's not cool, fam . I mean, I've seen some crazy stuff in my day, but this is on another level . These guys are basically tellin' people "you gotta vote for Asfura or you're dead", like, what even is that?

And the fact that Trump is backing him? It's just weird, bro . I don't get why he's doin' this, but it's not exactly helpin' democracy in Honduras . I mean, we've got our own problems with election interference and whatnot, but at least ours ain't gotta do with gangs and intimidation .

It's just sad, man. Hondurans deserve better than to be livin' in fear because of some gangsters . We should be focusin' on helpin' people vote their conscience, not tryin' to control 'em like they're just puppets .

OMG, this is like totally disturbing ! MS-13 intimidating people to vote for one party or another? That's not right at all . I'm literally shaking with anger thinking about how many ppl are being scared into voting for whoever doesn't want to stick their neck out . Trump's backing is like, super suspicious too . How can we even know what's real and what's not? Like, democracy should be all about freedom of choice, you know? Not about gangs controlling ppl's lives . Anyways, let's keep fingers crossed that Nasralla wins and Honduras can get back on track !

Ugh, this is so messed up ! MS-13 showing up at people's doors threatening them if they don't vote for a certain party? That's just chilling . It's like Trump thought he could just swoop in and influence the election without anyone noticing. I mean, what's next? Foreign interference in our elections too?

I'm not surprised though, given Honduras' history with corruption and gang violence . The Honduran government needs to do more to protect its citizens and ensure a free and fair election. This is just another example of how democracy can be manipulated by powerful interests .

And let's not forget that Trump's backing for Asfura was all about undermining the left-leaning government, which is exactly what our country should be fighting against . It's like we're all watching a bad soap opera and we need to get off the couch and take action .

I'm keeping an eye on this situation, but I'm not holding my breath for any good news . One thing's for sure though – the people of Honduras deserve better than to be intimidated into voting for someone they don't want to vote for

omg, this is so concerning ... how can ppl be intimidated into voting 4 one party? its like a dictatorship or smthn! u think trump's backing 4 asfura was just about supporting democracy? no way... it sounds like he's trying 2 undermine the left-leaning gov in honduras. poor nasralla, he's gotta fight against all this gang intimidation & trump's interference too anyw, fingers crossed for fair elections & a peaceful future 4 hondurans

The situation unfolding in Honduras is quite disheartening . The use of MS-13's intimidation tactics to influence the election raises serious concerns about the erosion of democratic norms in the country. It's disturbing to see how organized crime groups are able to exert such control over the lives of citizens, with voting decisions often dictating one's very existence.

Trump's backing for Asfura, coupled with his earlier pardon of Juan Orlando Hernández, smacks of a brazen attempt to undermine the Honduran government. The timing of these actions couldn't be more opportune, given the country's shift towards left-leaning politics. One can't help but wonder about the extent to which US foreign interference is shaping the Honduran election process.

The fact that residents are living in fear of voting for certain parties underscores the urgent need for electoral reform and increased protections for civic engagement. It's crucial that the Honduran government takes concrete steps to address these concerns and ensure a free and fair democratic process. Anything less would be unacceptable

MS-13's dirty tricks can't hide behind Trump's endorsement . Whoever wins the election, it's clear that gang violence has won this round . What's even more worrying is that foreign influence always seems to be lurking in the shadows . Can we trust any outcome when it comes to Honduras' democratic process? The real question is, what will be the cost for those who didn't vote Asfura?

I just can't believe what's happening in Honduras... Gangs like MS-13 think they can just intimidate people into voting for whoever Trump wants them to vote for? It's so scary, especially when you consider that some of these areas are already controlled by gangs and it's like living in a war zone. I feel bad for all those Hondurans who are having to live with this fear every day... The thought of foreign interference like this is just unsettling, it's like the US government is backing one side over another in an election. What does that say about democracy? It's not exactly what we'd expect from a country supposed to be setting an example for others to follow...

I'm so worried about what's happening in Honduras . The use of intimidation by MS-13 is a huge red flag for democracy, you know? I mean, people should be able to vote whoever they want without fear of reprisal or even death. It's crazy that Trump would back someone who's got ties to a gang like that and now we're seeing the results . The whole thing just feels really suspicious to me - like there's something fishy going on behind the scenes. We need to keep an eye on this situation and make sure it doesn't lead to any more problems for the people of Honduras .

I'm not surprised to hear that MS-13 is involved in this election. Gangs like them have been a thorn in Honduras' side for years, and it's only getting worse. The fact that they're using intimidation tactics to sway votes is just another example of how corruption and organized crime are deeply entrenched in the country.

I'm also a bit skeptical about Trump's motives here. I get that he wants to push his agenda through Honduras, but backing a candidate like Asfura who's been accused of ties to MS-13 doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. It just feels like another example of foreign interference trying to shape the outcome of an election.

It's concerning to think about how this is going to affect democracy in Honduras. If people are too scared to vote because of gang intimidation, that's a major blow to the system. The Honduran government needs to take action to protect its citizens and ensure that elections are free from corruption and intimidation.

We should be keeping an eye on how this all plays out and what consequences Trump faces for his involvement. It's not looking good for Honduras right now

I'm getting super worried about this election situation in Honduras . I mean, MS-13 intimidating people into voting for one party or the other? That's just not right. It's like they're trying to control every aspect of people's lives, you know? The thought of living in fear because of which party you vote for is just terrifying . And now Trump is backing this candidate, which just feels like a huge thumbs down for democracy everywhere . How can we trust the system when it seems like gang members and foreign interference are at play? We need to do something about this ASAP

This is so concerning . I mean, MS-13 intimidating people into voting for a certain candidate? That's like something out of a bad movie. And Trump backing Asfura? It's like he's trying to control Honduras' politics from afar . The thought that some people might be too scared to vote because of gang threats is just heartbreaking . I hope the Honduran government and international community take action against this kind of thing ASAP . We need to protect democracy and human rights, not let gangs and foreign powers undermine them.

can u believe ms-13 is like the ultimate campaign managers?? they're so good at voter suppression i mean, who needs polling stations when you got mara salvatrucha showing up at people's doors? trump's backing for asfura is wild too, like he's trying to be the godfather of honduran politics and what's up with these gangs being all over the place? it's like they own the country or something anyway, if voting for libre means you get a death threat, i think that's enough to keep me from voting