TEGUCIGALPA – The president of the United States, Donald Trump, urged Hondurans this Wednesday to vote for the opposition candidate Nasry “Tito” Asfura in next Sunday’s general elections, in a call that shakes up the political scene of a country marked by allegations of irregularities and growing tensions under the administration of the leftist Xiomara Castro.
In a message published on his social network Truth Social, the US president described the National Party candidate as “the only true friend of freedom” and assured that he is the option with which Washington can work to strengthen democratic stability in Honduras.
Asfura, a 67-year-old businessman and former mayor of Tegucigalpa, publicly thanked Trump for his support and stated that his political project seeks to “defend democracy, freedom and the values that sustain the country.” The candidate enters the race in a technical tie with the ruling party’s Rixi Moncada, a key figure in the Libre party and closely linked to Castro’s political circle. Presenter Salvador Nasralla, from the Liberal Party, also competes.
Trump, for his part, stated that he does not see a cooperative relationship with Moncada possible and expressed distrust towards Nasralla, stressing that Asfura represents a stronger option against the advancement of political projects aligned with authoritarian regimes in the region.
In his message, the US president compared the future of Honduras with the situation in Venezuela under dictator Nicolás Maduro, warning about the influence of drug trafficking and the regional allies of 21st century socialism. Although he did not rule out an eventual dialogue with Caracas, he insisted that his priority is to contain the destabilizing impact of the Venezuelan regime.
“No second round”
The Honduran election, without a second round, is anticipated to be tense in a country hit by high rates of poverty, migration and a long history of controversial elections. The next president will replace Xiomara Castro, whose government faces erosion due to allegations of opaque management, institutional deterioration and closeness to political alliances that have generated concern inside and outside the region.
Trump’s open support introduces an additional element into an already polarized electoral process, while Hondurans evaluate a possible political turn after four years marked by internal disputes and growing questions about the direction of the country.
