Trump-Backed Nasry Asfura Wins Honduras Presidential Election/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Nasry Asfura, backed by Donald Trump, has won the Honduran presidential election after a disputed, weeks-long count. The narrow victory signals a rightward shift in Latin America and ends LIBRE party’s hold on power. Asfura pledged unity as opponents alleged election interference.
Honduras Election 2025: Quick Looks
- Nasry Asfura declared winner of Honduras’ Nov. 30 presidential election.
- Won with 40.27% over Salvador Nasralla’s 39.53% in a tight race.
- LIBRE party’s candidate, representing the incumbent leftist government, placed third.
- Donald Trump endorsed Asfura days before the vote.
- Critics claim Trump’s support influenced results and undermined fairness.
- U.S. and Latin American leaders, including Javier Milei, congratulated Asfura.
- Opposition candidates called the process fraudulent and incomplete.
- Election faced delays, irregularities, and sparked global concern.
Deep Look: Nasry Asfura Wins Honduras Presidency in Contentious, Trump-Backed Victory
TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS — Conservative candidate Nasry Asfura has been officially declared the winner of Honduras’ presidential election, concluding a weeks-long, chaotic vote count that raised serious concerns about the country’s electoral integrity. Backed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, Asfura secured 40.27% of the vote in the November 30 election, narrowly defeating rival Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party, who garnered 39.53%.
The victory continues a growing trend across Latin America, where right-wing candidates have been gaining traction. Just days before the Honduran announcement, far-right politician José Antonio Kast was elected president in Chile, further signaling a regional ideological shift.
A Former Mayor Becomes President
Asfura, a former mayor of Honduras’ capital, Tegucigalpa, had previously run for president, losing in his first attempt. This time, he overcame a tight contest with Nasralla during a prolonged and disputed vote count that stretched for more than three weeks. The delay stoked tensions and led to accusations of manipulation, particularly as the count was paused to conduct a special tally of remaining votes.
While chaos unfolded among election officials and opposition leaders on Tuesday night, Asfura’s campaign headquarters erupted in celebration. His win, according to many analysts, was bolstered by his image as a pragmatic politician focused on infrastructure and stability.
In a televised address Wednesday evening, Asfura struck a unifying tone.
“With deep gratitude, I accept the honor of serving Honduras. I extend my hand so we can walk together. I will not fail you,” he said.
Trump’s Influence Draws Scrutiny
Asfura’s narrow win came just days after a public endorsement from Donald Trump, who stated Asfura was the only candidate with whom the U.S. administration would work. The endorsement was quickly criticized by opponents as an act of foreign interference.
Salvador Nasralla, the runner-up, has insisted the vote was manipulated and fraudulently tallied. On Wednesday, he accused electoral officials of betraying the Honduran people.
In a social media post directed at Trump, Nasralla wrote:
“Your endorsed candidate in Honduras is complicit in silencing the votes of our citizens. If he is truly worthy of your backing, why won’t he allow for every vote to be counted?”
Critics argue that Trump’s endorsement not only influenced the final outcome but also cast doubt on the neutrality of the election. For them, it marked a form of external pressure in a country still recovering from years of political instability.
Regional and International Responses
The reaction to Asfura’s win was swift across the political right. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated him on social media, expressing optimism about future cooperation in the hemisphere. Latin American leaders like Argentina’s President Javier Milei, another Trump ally, also offered praise.
However, international bodies expressed concern about the process. The Organization of American States (OAS), which had previously warned about the slow vote count, noted the results but also criticized the decision to declare a winner before all ballots were fully counted — with 0.07% still outstanding at the time of the announcement.
“We are closely following events in Honduras,” OAS Secretary General Albert Rambin wrote, cautioning against undermining democratic processes.
A Setback for the Left
The results dealt a significant blow to the ruling Liberty and Refoundation Party (LIBRE), led by President Xiomara Castro, who came to power in 2021 promising anti-corruption reforms and a reduction in violence. The LIBRE candidate trailed far behind in third place with 19.19%, a sharp repudiation of the administration’s agenda.
President Castro, while acknowledging the result, referred to the U.S. involvement as an “electoral coup.” Still, she confirmed her intent to respect the outcome.
Political observers said the rejection of the ruling party was clear.
“Very few people, even within LIBRE, believe they won the election,” said Eric Olson, an international observer with the Seattle International Foundation. “They’ll claim fraud and interference, but they’re not pretending they won.”
He emphasized that while concerns over transparency remain valid, the outcome reflects widespread dissatisfaction with the current administration’s performance.
A Fraught Election Cycle
The 2025 election was one of the most contentious in recent Honduran history. The sluggish and error-prone vote count left the country in a political limbo for weeks. Delays prompted criticism from international observers, and public trust in the electoral system appeared to erode further as final results were delayed and then announced before all votes were fully tallied.
Nonetheless, Nasry Asfura now prepares to take office at a time of deep division and skepticism. He faces the daunting challenge of governing a country still plagued by inequality, corruption, and instability — all while attempting to unify a deeply polarized electorate.
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