Trump-Backed Asfura Wins Honduras Election After Prolonge...

By Jesus Mesa and Gabe WhisnantShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

Trump-backed conservative Nasry Asfura won Honduras’ presidential election, electoral authorities said Wednesday, concluding a weeks-long vote count that raised concerns about the credibility of the country’s fragile electoral system. Asfura narrowly defeated Salvador Nasralla in a race marked by delays, disputes and allegations of fraud.

The National Electoral Council (CNE) confirmed on Wednesday that Asfura, 67, a former Tegucigalpa mayor and construction magnate backed by the White House, won with 40.3 percent of the vote. Nasralla, of the Liberal Party, received 39.5 percent, while the ruling leftist Liberty and Refoundation (LIBRE) Party candidate, Rixi Moncada, trailed with less than 20 percent.

“Honduras: I am prepared to govern. I will not fail you,” Asfura wrote on X shortly after the results were announced. Nasralla rejected the results and called for a full recount.

Why It Matters

The Central American nation was stuck in limbo for more than three weeks as vote counting by electoral authorities lagged, and at one point was paralyzed after a special count of final vote tallies was called, fueling warnings by international leaders.

U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed Asfura just days before the early December election, calling him “the only candidate in Honduras who will partner with Washington to ensure stability and security.” The endorsement coincided with Trump’s announcement of a full presidential pardon for former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, a member of Asfura’s party, who had been serving a 45-year U.S. federal prison sentence for drug trafficking and corruption.

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What To Know

Asfura, known for his low-key demeanor and technocratic background, ran as a pragmatic builder, pledging to “fix roads, create jobs and restore security.” A member of the conservative National Party, he previously served two terms as mayor of Tegucigalpa, where he built a reputation around infrastructure projects.

“Asfura projects stability and managerial experience—that appealed to voters tired of ideological battles,” Eric Olson, a senior analyst with the Seattle International Foundation who served as an election observer, told the Associated Press.

Nasralla, however, has refused to concede. He has labeled the outcome “fraudulent” and called for a full recount. In a post addressed to Trump, Nasralla wrote: “Mr. President, your endorsed candidate in Honduras is complicit in silencing the votes of our citizens. If he is truly worthy of your backing… why doesn’t he allow every vote to be counted?”

The U.S. State Department moved quickly to recognize the result, congratulating Asfura on what it described as a “clear electoral victory” and stressing continued cooperation on migration and security.

“The United States congratulates President-elect Nasry Asfura of Honduras on his clear electoral victory, confirmed by Honduras’ National Electoral Council,” the statement said. “We look forward to working with his incoming administration to advance our bilateral and regional security cooperation, curb illegal immigration to the United States, and strengthen economic ties between our two countries.”

The Trump administration also urged all parties to respect the confirmed results to allow Honduran authorities to ensure a peaceful transition.

Despite the win, Asfura faces significant challenges. Honduras remains one of the poorest and most violent countries in the hemisphere, with persistently high levels of emigration to the United States.

The outcome extends Latin America’s recent political shift to the right, just one week after Chile chose the far-right José Antonio Kast as its next president.

What People Are Saying

Honduran President-Elect Nasry Asfura, on X on Wednesday: “Honduras, we now have the official declaration from the CNE @CneHonduras. I recognize the great work carried out by the councilors and the entire team that handled the development of the elections. Honduras: I am prepared to govern. I will not fail you. God bless Honduras.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on X on Wednesday: “The people of Honduras have spoken: Nasry Asfura is Honduras’ next president. The United States congratulates President-elect @titoasfura @papialaordenh and looks forward to working with his administration to advance prosperity and security in our hemisphere.”

Honduran presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla, on X on Wednesday: “Didn’t the members of the European Union observation mission see this fraud? Nor did the members of the Organization of American States (OAS) observation mission? That’s why I’m asking them to count vote by vote 10,000 ballot boxes, which equal 2 million votes. In a few minutes, I’ll give you another example. Pay close attention, because you can also do this at home with any of the records we are challenging. Merry Christmas.”

What Happens Next

Asfura is scheduled to take office in late January. Nasralla has vowed to continue contesting the result in court, but electoral authorities have dismissed prospects of overturning the official count.

This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.

Update 12/24/25, 5:29 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.

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