23 hours ago
Last Updated:January 05, 2026, 08:25 IST
Trump administration faces renewed scrutiny after Maduro’s capture revives criticism of Trump’s pardon of ex-Honduran leader Hernández who was convicted on drug-trafficking charges
Trump defended the pardon of Hernandez, saying that he had been "persecuted very unfairly.”
The Trump administration is facing renewed scrutiny following the dramatic US military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. This action has revived criticism over President Donald Trump’s decision last year to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who had been convicted on major drug-trafficking charges.
During a recent press conference, Trump defended the pardon after being pressed by a reporter on the apparent contradiction, saying Hernández, “was the head of the country" and had been “persecuted very unfairly," despite his conviction.
The US operation drew sharp criticism from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also, who on Saturday labelled Trump’s indictment of Maduro “hypocritical," arguing that the administration cannot justify its actions solely on drug-trafficking grounds while having pardoned Hernandez, whom US prosecutors said was responsible for facilitating the shipment of more than 400 tons of cocaine into the United States.
“If the President grounds his actions on the basis of drug trafficking charges, it is entirely hypocritical in light of his recent pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández who was responsible for bringing more than 400 tons of cocaine in the United States in order to ‘shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos,’" Pelosi wrote on social platform X.
Pelosi’s remarks underscored growing political backlash as the administration seeks to defend its aggressive stance against Maduro while facing questions over consistency in its anti-drug policies.
Location :
New York, United States of America (USA)
First Published:
January 05, 2026, 08:25 IST
News world 'Persecuted Very Unfairly': Trump Defends Pardon Of Honduras' Former President After Maduro's Arrest
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Read More
