President Donald Trump justified his plans to pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, former president of Honduras, while speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday.

In 2024, Hernández was sentenced to 45 years in prison and ordered to pay an $8 million fine, as part of a conspiracy to import more than 400 tons of cocaine into the United States.

When asked how he could reconcile his tough stance on drugs with a promise to pardon the convicted drug trafficker, Trump feigned ignorance.

“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” Trump said, forcing the reporter to remind him of his Truth Social announcement on Friday.

President Donald Trump was asked on Sunday about his plans to pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras, who is accused of drug trafficking.
President Donald Trump was asked on Sunday about his plans to pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras, who is accused of drug trafficking.

JIM WATSON via Getty Images

Trump then responded with one of his usual excuses: blaming his predecessor.

“A lot of people in Honduras said it was a trap by Biden,” Trump said.

“I looked at the facts and agreed with them,” he added.

When asked to provide evidence, Trump was vague on the details.

“You can take any country you want, if someone sells drugs in that country, that doesn’t mean you arrest the president and put him in jail for the rest of his life,” Trump said.

In announcing his plans to pardon Hernandez, Trump said he had been told by reliable sources that the former president was “treated very harshly and unfairly.”

Watch the full Air Force One exchange here:

Journalist: You’ve made it very clear how you want to keep drugs out of the US.

Trump: Right.

Journalist: Can you explain why you would forgive a known drug trafficker?

Trump: I don’t know who you’re talking about

Reporter: Juan Orlando Hernández

Trump: Many of the people of… pic.twitter.com/irI1Ce5Ued

– Acyn (@Acs) November 30, 2025

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Journalist: You’ve made it very clear how you want to keep drugs out of the US.

Trump: Right.

Journalist: Can you explain why you would forgive a known drug trafficker?

Trump: I don’t know who you’re talking about

Reporter: Juan Orlando Hernández

Trump: Many of the people of… pic.twitter.com/irI1Ce5Ued

– Acyn (@Acs) November 30, 2025