Honduras seeks arrest of ex-President Hernández after Trump pardon
NPR2 days
Honduras Asks Interpol to Execute Arrest Warrant for Trump-Pardoned Ex-President
Is this political persecution or overdue justice for a confirmed criminal?
Above: Protester holds a banner against the pardon of Juan Orlando Hernández (JOH) outside the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa on Dec. 4, 2025. Image credit: Orlando Sierra/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Government-critical narrative
Hernández has been the target of a coordinated, international conspiracy by the radical left, and this latest development confirms that. First, Biden administration officials and U.S. deep state actors sought to destroy his reputation. Now that Trump has corrected this grave injustice, Tegucigalpa is doubling down on its persecution.
Pro-government narrative
Hernández was the leader of a criminal enterprise operated from the presidential palace, which flooded communities with cocaine and destroyed many lives. It's clear that Trump abused his powers to pardon him, so it's only natural that authorities in Honduras are hoping to bring their former president back home to face overdue justice for his wrongdoing.