Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras, was released from a U.S. jail in North Carolina last month. He was granted a presidential pardon by Donald Trump. This release could not arrive at a more crucial moment for Honduras. The country is equally impatiently awaiting the results of a very close-run national election. Hernández’s wife, Ana García de Hernández, affirmed his release to the public, reporting that he was now in a “safe place.”
Hernández president from 2014 to 2022. In 2017, after a court ruling threw out an earlier constitutional prohibition on re-election, he launched his campaign for a second term. His win in that election was besmirched by scandal, with even accusations of electoral fraud. He came out on top during a “blackout” period where results were abruptly stopped and then mysteriously resumed. The U.S. was the first government to congratulate him as victor, even amid massive street protests.
Now, as the nation holds its breath for election results, Hernández’s ally, Nasry “Tito” Asfura, currently leads with 39.91% of the votes counted. Salvador Nasralla is only a tad behind with 39.89%. The electoral court has not yet declared final results, which can take as long as 30 days to certify. Rixi Moncada of the left-wing ruling party is a distant third with just 19.16% of the vote.
Trump has publicly supported Asfura and claimed that electoral officials are trying to rig the vote. If these changes are made, he warned, “There will be hell to pay!” Hernández’s support for Asfura only deepened the crisis. In the meantime, Hernández’s criticisms of Nasralla have done more to mess everything up.
“Let’s not keep the country waiting, on edge.” – Nasry “Tito” Asfura
Hernández’s release is particularly contentious given his conviction for creating “a cocaine superhighway to the United States,” which resulted in a lengthy prison sentence of 45 years. His pardon by Trump has raised eyebrows and intensified scrutiny of U.S.-Honduran relations.
We are very happy within this very solemn context. 880 days that we went through with those of you who shared them—so difficult, so painful! She stated:
“God is faithful and never fails! Yesterday, Monday 1 December 2025, we lived a day we will never forget. After almost four years of pain, waiting and difficult trials, my husband, Juan Orlando Hernández, became a free man AGAIN, thanks to the presidential pardon granted by President Donald Trump.”
Xiomara Castro, the current president and a political opponent of Hernández. She is unable to run for re-election due to constitutional limits on presidential terms in Honduras. This political reality has opened the door for moderate candidates like Asfura and Nasralla. They are in a fierce battle for that power right now, during a deeply politically tumultuous period.
As we await the final resolution of the contested election results, the situation in Honduras is becoming increasingly volatile. Domestic and international observers have their eyes on the situation as long as allegations of electoral tampering remain. The political landscape in Honduras is still very fragile as it moves through this important crossroads.