President Donald Trump announced Friday on Truth Social that he plans to grant a full pardon to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who is serving a 45-year U.S. federal sentence for drug trafficking and weapons offenses. Hernández was extradited in 2022 and later convicted for helping traffickers move massive quantities of cocaine toward the United States while taking millions in bribes from cartel leaders, including Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Trump argued Hernández had been treated “harshly and unfairly” and tied the announcement to the recent election victory of conservative Honduran candidate Nasry “Tito” Asfura, whom he endorsed as key to the country’s political and economic recovery.
Trump reiterated his support for Asfura earlier in the week, claiming the two could work together against “Narcocommunists.” He warned that the United States might reconsider assistance to Honduras if Asfura loses the upcoming election. Trump also declared that all airspace above and around Venezuela would be closed, following months of U.S. military strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the region. The announcement came soon after U.S. aviation authorities warned airlines of heightened military activity over Venezuela, prompting Caracas to revoke operating rights for several major carriers.
The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking, allegations he denies. Maduro claims Trump aims to remove him from power, insisting Venezuelans and the military would resist. U.S. forces have carried out more than 20 operations against suspected trafficking vessels since September, resulting in over 80 deaths. Trump recently said he has “sort of made up” his mind on future U.S. policy toward Venezuela after consultations with senior military officials but offered no specifics, saying only that progress had been made in slowing drug flows.