Trump Announces Intent to Pardon Juan Orlando Hernandez, Convicted in Massive Cocaine Trafficking Case

President Donald Trump announced on Friday, November 29, 2025, that he intends to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who is serving a 45-year prison sentence in the United States for orchestrating a massive cocaine trafficking operation. In a post on Truth Social, Trump described Hernandez as having been "treated very harshly and unfairly" based on accounts from "many people that I greatly respect," signaling a bold move just two days before Honduras' national election. The decision comes amid heightened U.S. anti-drug efforts in the region, including recent strikes on suspected cartel vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific that have resulted in over 80 deaths, and the designation of Venezuela's Cartel of the Suns as a foreign terrorist organization.

Hernandez, who led Honduras from 2014 to 2022 as a key U.S. ally across multiple administrations, was extradited to New York in April 2022 shortly after leaving office. He faced charges of drug trafficking and weapons offenses, with federal prosecutors alleging he transformed the Central American nation into a "narco-state" by accepting millions in bribes from traffickers, including his brother Juan Antonio Hernandez, to protect cocaine shipments from Colombia. The Justice Department claimed the operation facilitated over 400 tons of cocaine—equivalent to about 4.5 billion doses—between 2004 and 2022. Hernandez has vehemently denied the accusations, maintaining his innocence throughout the trial.

A Manhattan federal jury convicted Hernandez in March 2024, leading to his sentencing in June of that year. The case highlighted deep corruption within Honduras' political elite, with evidence showing Hernandez allegedly used drug money to fund his presidential campaigns and influence elections. Trump's pardon, if granted, would immediately free Hernandez and could reshape U.S.-Honduras relations, especially as the U.S. ramps up pressure on regional cartels. The timing aligns with Trump's endorsement of Nasry Asfura, a National Party candidate and former Tegucigalpa mayor—Hernandez's former party—who is running in Sunday's election to succeed current President Xiomara Castro.

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The announcement unfolds against a backdrop of escalating U.S. military involvement in Latin America, including the deployment of the world's largest aircraft carrier to confront Venezuelan drug networks led by President Nicolas Maduro, whom the U.S. accuses of ties to the Cartel of the Suns. Reports indicate Trump recently spoke with Maduro about a potential meeting, while vowing to halt Venezuelan cartels by land "very soon." Critics, including human rights advocates, have condemned the pardon as undermining anti-corruption efforts and rewarding impunity, potentially emboldening narco-influenced politics in Honduras.

As speculation grows about possible U.S. strikes on Venezuelan targets, Trump's intervention in Hernandez's case underscores a pragmatic approach to alliances in the fight against drugs, prioritizing perceived loyalty over legal convictions. Hernandez's wife, Ana Garcia, addressed the media post-announcement, expressing relief and gratitude. The pardon process, typically swift for a sitting president, could see Hernandez released within days, raising questions about his role in Honduras' upcoming political landscape and the broader implications for U.S. foreign policy in the hemisphere.

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