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Trump tries to bribe Honduran electorate to restore narco-trafficking government to power

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 29 November 2025 9:44 AM

US President Donald Trump has endorsed the candidate of Honduras's right-wing National Party in the upcoming presidential election and pledged to pardon the party's former president, who is serving a federal prison sentence in the US for drug trafficking.

On Wednesday, Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social to express his support for Honduran presidential candidate Nasry (Tito) Asfura of the National Party.

"The only real friend of Freedom in Honduras is Tito Asfura. Tito and I can work together to fight the Narcocommunists, and bring needed aid to the people of Honduras," he wrote.

Asfura's party maintained close ties with Washington under Juan Orlando Hernandez, who served as president from 2014 to 2022 and was arrested shortly after leaving office for drug trafficking.

In March 2024, a Manhattan court found Hernandez guilty and sentenced him to 45 years in prison for accepting millions of dollars in bribes to protect cocaine shipments destined for the US, despite publicly claiming to combat drug trafficking.

Trump reinforced his endorsement of Asfura on Friday, threatening to withhold US cooperation and aid if Asfura did not win.

"If Tito Asfura wins, we will be very supportive ... If he does not win, the United States will not be throwing good money after [a bad leader]," he said.

He also stated he intended to grant a pardon to Hernandez, saying, "I will be granting a Full and Complete Pardon to Former President Juan Orlando Hernandez who has been, according to many people that I greatly respect, treated very harshly and unfairly."

Asfura, for his part, welcomed Trump's renewed endorsement and denied any connection to Hernandez.

Hondurans are scheduled to vote on Sunday in an election that remains highly competitive, with Asfura, the former mayor of Tegucigalpa, closely contesting former defense minister Rixi Moncada of the ruling leftist LIBRE Party.

Since 2021, Honduras has been led by President Xiomara Castro, who has developed close relations with Cuba and Venezuela, two countries opposed to US's aggressive policies in the region.

Trump's endorsement of a convicted narcotrafficker coincides with his threats of military action against Venezuela, which he falsely alleges has become a center for drug trafficking, and a campaign against boats he claims, without evidence, are involved in the trade.

His message mirrors tactics used ahead of Argentina's legislative elections in October, when he offered a $20 billion bailout to the country conditional on the electoral success of President Javier Milei's party.