Washington, D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump has stated he intends to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez just days before Honduras’ highly contested presidential election, a move that has drawn both attention and criticism. Hernandez, who led the Central American nation from 2014 to 2022, is serving a 45-year sentence in the United States for drug trafficking after being extradited from Honduras.

Trump made the announcement on social media, describing Hernandez as having been “treated very harshly and unfairly,” and cited endorsements from “many people that I greatly respect.” The timing of the pardon coincides with the Honduran vote, in which Trump has publicly supported conservative National Party candidate Nasry “Tito” Asfura.

Hernandez’s political legacy remains controversial. Prosecutors in the U.S. accused him of working with multiple drug cartels—including the Sinaloa cartel—to smuggle more than 400 tonnes of cocaine into the United States. During Hernandez’s trial, authorities highlighted that cartel bribes helped fuel his political rise, with former U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland calling his presidency “a narco-state where violent traffickers operated with virtual impunity.”

Despite Trump’s endorsement, Asfura has distanced himself from Hernandez. “I have no ties [with Hernandez],” Asfura told AFP. “He was president of the Republic; the party is not responsible for his personal actions.” Asfura faces competition from four other candidates in a race marred by allegations of corruption and political tension.

Trump’s pledge to pardon Hernandez has sparked criticism given his administration’s previous stance on drug cartels. During his presidency, the U.S. designated several criminal organizations as foreign terrorist groups and carried out international operations targeting alleged drug traffickers. Rights groups have questioned whether a pardon could undermine U.S. efforts to combat narcotics smuggling in the region.

Hernandez’s potential pardon comes amid a backdrop of regional tensions. Trump and other right-wing figures have criticized left-leaning Honduran candidates for alleged ties to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, while military deployments and rhetoric around U.S. intervention have increased in Central America.

The upcoming Honduran election, scheduled just two days after Trump’s announcement, will determine whether the conservative National Party retains power or if opposition forces gain control.