Nasry Asfura, a Trump-backed businessman, was sworn in Tuesday as president of Honduras, pledging to lead the country “with the full commitment required to deliver real solutions to every corner of our beloved Honduras.” The 67-year-old took office at Congress in an austere ceremony without foreign dignitaries, though diplomatic representatives attended.
Asfura won the election with 40.27 percent of the vote, just ahead of conservative rival Salvador Nasralla’s 39.53 percent—a margin of less than one percentage point. Competitors called the election fraudulent as vote counts extended for weeks; Nasralla maintains he is the rightful president. His victory reflects a broader rightward political shift sweeping Latin America.
Pledges and Platform
Asfura said he would work to shrink the size of state government to improve efficiency and direct resources to those most in need. He pledged to “confront insecurity head-on” as gang violence continues to ravage the Central American nation, and committed to investing in health care and education. He also emphasized attracting investment to generate jobs and improving infrastructure connecting municipalities.
Background and Prior Campaigns
Asfura served two terms as mayor of Tegucigalpa from 2014 to 2022 and previously served as secretary of the Honduran Social Investment Fund during the administration of Porfirio Lobo Sosa from 2010 to 2014. This is his second attempt at the presidency; he lost in 2021 to Xiomara Castro of the leftist Liberty and Refoundation Party, known as Libre.
The Trump Connection and Hernández Pardon
Asfura is a member of the conservative National Party, the same political party as former President Juan Orlando Hernández. Hernández was extradited to the United States after leaving office in 2022 and had been serving a 45-year sentence for his role in a drug trafficking operation that moved hundreds of tons of cocaine to the United States.
Trump pardoned and freed Hernández from prison in the midst of the election—a move that came as Asfura was competing to become president. Trump’s backing of Asfura became increasingly visible as the campaign progressed.
Latin America’s Rightward Shift
His victory reflects a broader rightward political shift sweeping Latin America. Chile similarly elected far-right politician José Antonio Kast as president.