November 30, 2025
As Honduras heads to the polls today, all eyes must be on this historic election — and on the powerful forces attempting to shape its outcome. A Global Exchange delegation of 47 observers from 13 countries, organized in alliance with CESPAD and the Honduras Solidarity Network (HSN), is on the ground accompanying Honduran communities defending their right to a sovereign and democratic process.
Over the past 72 hours, we have witnessed an escalation that should alarm us all: a clear intensification of direct U.S. political interference led by U.S. President Donald Trump.
President Trump has not simply endorsed National Party candidate Tito Asfura. In his recent statements, he has:
- attacked leading candidate Rixi Moncada, recycling disinformation and Cold War-style rhetoric long used by Honduras’s right wing;
- promised to secure the release of former president Juan Orlando Hernández, currently imprisoned in the United States for drug trafficking; and
- threatened to cut U.S. financial support for Honduras if Asfura does not win.
This is political interference, timed to influence Honduran voters at the very moment they are choosing their next government.
At the same time, U.S. Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar has spent months using congressional hearings and major media platforms to portray Honduras’s government and the LIBRE party as “anti-democratic,” echoing narratives promoted by powerful right-wing elites seeking to delegitimize this election. Official U.S. warnings that Washington will “respond” to irregularities add to the sense of external pressure bearing down on Honduran democracy. Rep. Salazar, along with eight other Congressional representatives, are in-country and ready to also intervene in the process.
What to Watch For Throughout the Day
Our delegation and partners will be monitoring:
- Disinformation and fear-based messaging echoing U.S. partisan talking points.
- Attempts to manipulate turnout or public perception through external pressure.
- Harassment, surveillance, or intimidation of voters, poll workers, or observers.
- Irregularities in voting, counting, or reporting, especially in areas controlled by entrenched interests.
- Security incidents around polling centers.
Read our statement and hear from our delegates in a national radio interview, independent media coverage, and a firsthand article written by one of our election observers:
– Yesterday, Global Exchange issued a public statement addressing this escalation of U.S. intervention. Read the full statement here.
– Radio interview with Amelia Frank-Vitale on IMER Noticias — discussing U.S. intervention, the stakes of today’s vote, and what our delegation is witnessing on the ground
– Independent media analysis featuring our delegation (DropSite News) — examining President Trump’s endorsement, the threat to cut aid, and the broader implications for Honduran democracy
– Firsthand article from a Global Exchange election observer — “Honduras Braces for Elections Amidst the Long Shadow of U.S. Military Buildup.”
Global Exchange’s mission is rooted in solidarity. We stand with Honduran communities defending their vote, their sovereignty, and their future, free from manipulation by corrupt political elites, narco-networks, or powerful actors abroad.
Today, the Honduran people are making their voices heard. Our responsibility is to help ensure the world does not look away, to document what unfolds, and to resist any effort to distort this democratic process.
Follow Global Exchange, CESPAD and the Honduras Solidarity Network for real-time coverage:
Global Exchange: Instagram, X, Bluesky, Facebook
Honduras Solidarity Network: Facebook, X
Thank you for standing with us, and with the people of Honduras, in this critical moment for democracy in the Americas.