The recent pardon of former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández by Donald Trump has sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles. However, this single act illuminates a far more enduring and troubling narrative: over eight years of steadfast United States support for a leader now convicted as a narcotics trafficker. This backing persisted across the administrations of Presidents Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden, despite mounting evidence of corruption, electoral theft, and state violence.
A Regime Built on Coups and Theft
Juan Orlando Hernández's path to power was paved with democratic subversion. As a member of congress, he supported the 2009 military coup that ousted President Manuel Zelaya. Later, as president of congress in 2012, he orchestrated a "technical coup," illegally replacing four of five supreme court constitutional judges with his loyalists. His initial presidential win in 2013 was dubious, and it was subsequently revealed his party had looted some $300 million from the national health service to fund campaigns.
In 2017, Hernández brazenly defied the Honduran constitution to seek re-election. When early results showed his opponent leading, officials shut down the counting system. A week later, they declared Hernández the victor by a slim 1.7% margin. Widespread peaceful protests were met with lethal force by state security, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 protesters and bystanders.
Decade of Diplomatic Complicity
Throughout this period, the United States government consistently legitimised Hernández's rule. When he overthrew the supreme court in 2012, Washington looked the other way. After the contested 2013 election, then-Secretary of State John Kerry praised the Honduran government for a "transparent" process. In 2016, as Hernández prepared his unconstitutional re-election bid, the US embassy stated it did not oppose him running according to "Honduran democratic practices."
Following the stolen 2017 election, the Trump administration's State Department congratulated Hernández on his victory. That same year, former General John Kelly, then Trump's chief of staff, called Hernández a "good friend" and a "great guy." Financial and military support flowed continuously, with the US funnelling tens of millions in security aid and sharing intelligence, even with officials later implicated in drug trafficking.
The Narco-State Connection and Ultimate Conviction
Parallel to his political crimes, Hernández was deeply enmeshed with international drug cartels. Prosecutors from the Southern District of New York (SDNY) proved he accepted massive bribes, including $1 million from Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. He was recorded promising to "shove the drugs right up the gringos’ noses." In 2024, he was convicted on charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and weapons offences.
Despite years of evidence and pleas from dozens of US lawmakers to suspend aid, American support never wavered. As Vice-President, Joe Biden launched an aid alliance channelling $250 million to the region, bolstering Hernández's government. This enduring partnership raises profound questions about accountability for US foreign policy in Latin America and whether the full history of support for criminal regimes will be remembered or conveniently forgotten.
