Donald Trump endorsement reshapes Honduras presidential race as conservative candidates battle for a narrow lead.
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| A woman casts her vote at a polling station during Honduras’ general election in Tegucigalpa on November 30, 2025. Photo by Lucas Aguayo/AFP/Getty Images |
The Honduras presidential race entered a volatile and unpredictable phase after former U.S. President Donald Trump issued an unexpected endorsement that reshaped public sentiment and heightened political uncertainty across the country. The contest, already forecast to be tight, narrowed even further as voters attempted to navigate last-minute endorsements, allegations, and the broader implications of Washington’s influence over one of the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nations.
Trump endorsed Nasry “Tito” Asfura, the 67-year-old candidate for the conservative National Party, urging Hondurans on his social media platform to elect him. That intervention immediately shifted the direction of the Honduras presidential race and triggered heated debate among voters and political observers. With only 34 percent of ballots counted by the National Electoral Council, Asfura held a narrow 40.6 percent lead, followed closely by conservative rival Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party, who had 38.8 percent.
The margins were thin enough for both campaigns to claim momentum, but the broader narrative of the election centered on the impact of Trump’s involvement and what it signaled for Honduras’ political future. At Asfura’s campaign headquarters in Tegucigalpa, supporters celebrated with chants of “Yes we did it!” as preliminary results were released late Sunday night. Yet the mood across the nation reflected tension, speculation, and renewed questions about U.S. influence in domestic Honduran politics.
Trump’s heavy involvement in the Honduras presidential race amplified concerns about external pressure. In his online posts, he described Asfura as the “only real friend of Freedom in Honduras,” framing the candidate as a partner who would collaborate closely with the United States. He said that if Asfura lost, Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro would effectively “take over” Honduras, a claim that sparked intense debate among voters already fatigued by years of political instability.
Trump’s message went beyond endorsement. He conditioned U.S. aid on Asfura’s victory, telling Hondurans that Washington would stop “throwing good money” at the country if the conservative leader failed to win. He argued that only Asfura could work with him to fight “narcocommunists” and ensure continued assistance. The direct tone of these statements injected a new level of pressure into an electoral system still struggling to rebuild trust after past controversies.
This was not the first time Trump had tried to influence election outcomes in Latin America. In recent months, he tied U.S. economic assistance for Argentina to the performance of President Javier Milei’s party in midterm elections. His involvement in regional politics has increasingly become a defining feature of the political climate across diverse countries facing economic strain, public unrest, and shifting alliances.
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| Honduras presidential candidate from the National Party, Nasry Asfura, prepares to cast his vote during the general election in Tegucigalpa on November 30, 2025. Photo by Marvin Recinos/AFP/Getty Images |
Asfura, who previously served as mayor of Tegucigalpa, has built a political reputation as a pragmatic administrator known for infrastructure development. His supporters often credit him with paving roads, improving water access, and managing major public works initiatives. The Trump endorsement strengthened his appeal among conservative voters who see alignment with Washington as essential for economic and political stability.
Part of Asfura’s message throughout the Honduras presidential race has been the need for a stable relationship with the United States. Business leaders, including those in the commercial hub of San Pedro Sula, have openly expressed confidence that a close partnership with Trump could unlock economic benefits such as increased investment or aid. One businessman in the city remarked that if Asfura won, Trump’s support would “help us,” reflecting the belief among some sectors that the endorsement could translate into tangible gains.
While conservative votes were split between Asfura and Nasralla, the ruling leftist Libre Party faced a severe setback. Its candidate, Rixi Moncada, managed less than 20 percent of the vote in early returns. Trump’s posts attacked Moncada directly, describing her as “close to communism” and falsely claiming that Fidel Castro had been her political idol. These messages appeared to resonate with certain segments of the electorate, contributing to her sharp decline in support.
For the Libre Party, the early results represented a dramatic reversal of fortunes. After years in power, the party faced widespread public dissatisfaction driven by economic stagnation, corruption scandals, and unfulfilled promises. Moncada’s inability to consolidate the leftist vote left the conservative candidates competing almost exclusively with one another, deepening the rivalry between Asfura and Nasralla.
Before Trump’s endorsement of Asfura, Nasralla had been leading most opinion polls. His background as a sports journalist and media figure made him a familiar face, and his promises of reform appealed to voters frustrated with entrenched corruption and political elites. However, Trump labeled him a “borderline communist,” accusing him of participating in an effort to split the conservative vote and deceive the public.
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| Honduran presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla of the opposition Liberal Party holds a ballot box with his wife Iroshka Elvir after casting his vote at a polling station during the general election in Tegucigalpa on November 30, 2025. Photo by Johny Magallanes/AFP/Getty Images |
The messaging appeared to erode Nasralla’s advantage, pushing conservative voters who were undecided or leaning toward him to reaffirm their support for Asfura. The sudden shift left Nasralla scrambling to regain control of his narrative as he emphasized his moderate policies and longstanding commitment to political transparency.
The Honduras presidential race unfolded against a backdrop of persistent economic hardship and ongoing migration to the United States. More than one million Hondurans live abroad, and remittances account for roughly a quarter of the national economy, surpassing $10 billion this year alone. This reality gives the United States enormous indirect influence over Honduras’ domestic affairs.
Trump’s policies have already reshaped the lives of thousands of Hondurans. Nearly 30,000 were deported from the U.S. in 2025, a rate on track to double the 2024 figure. Many voters viewed the endorsement through that lens, weighing whether an Asfura victory might ease the pressure on families dependent on relatives working abroad.
At the same time, Honduras continues to struggle with corruption, gang violence, and high unemployment. These challenges have fueled migration and contributed to widespread public distrust of political institutions. The endorsement from Trump risked complicating these issues further, raising concerns that the country’s internal affairs were becoming increasingly entangled with U.S. partisan politics.
Controversy over the proposed pardon
Trump reignited controversy when he announced plans to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted in the United States and sentenced to 45 years in prison. Prosecutors found that Hernández had turned Honduras into a narco-state and protected cocaine traffickers in exchange for millions of dollars in bribes.
The proposal stirred confusion and anger among Hondurans, many of whom saw the conviction as a painful but necessary step toward justice. Trump’s promise to pardon Hernández contradicted his own allegations that Venezuela’s government operated as a narco-state, leading some voters to question the consistency and sincerity of his narrative.
For many Hondurans, the issue highlighted a central concern in the Honduras presidential race: whether external powers were using the country as a pawn in larger political battles. The debate over Hernández’s fate illustrated how deeply foreign actors could influence local governance and justice systems.
