Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results

Honduran presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla says last-minute interference by former U.S. President Donald Trump undermined his chances in the country’s tightly contested election. Speaking with Reuters, Nasralla, a three-time candidate who identifies as center-right, said Trump’s unexpected endorsement of conservative rival Nasry Asfura reversed what he believed was a strong lead. According to Nasralla, Trump’s description of him as a “borderline communist” misrepresented his political stance and influenced undecided voters at a critical moment.

With roughly 87% of ballots counted, Honduras’ electoral authority reported Asfura holding a narrow edge with 40.27% of the vote compared to Nasralla’s 39.38%. The slim margin remains volatile, particularly as around 17% of ballots were flagged for “inconsistencies” and require further review. Nasralla emphasized that such irregularities leave room for the race to shift again.

Adding to the tension, Nasralla criticized Trump’s decision to pardon former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who had been serving a 45-year U.S. sentence for drug trafficking. He argued that Hernández should still face justice in Honduras, where many blame his administration for deep-rooted corruption. Asfura’s National Party previously maintained a close alliance with Washington during Hernández’s tenure.

Nasralla also raised concerns about election integrity after the official results platform briefly went offline early Thursday morning. When it returned, he said, his slight lead had disappeared. While he admitted he lacked concrete evidence, he suggested that technical manipulation could be involved, referencing Honduras’ history of contested elections, including allegations of fraud in 2017.

Despite these claims, the Organization of American States has not reported signs of manipulation. Analysts note that the delays and disruptions may be due more to technical failures and a weakened electoral system than to intentional wrongdoing. Experts argue that political infighting and poor preparation have long contributed to electoral instability in Honduras, making the current turmoil unsurprising to seasoned observers.