Trump Ally Nasry Asfura Takes Oath as Honduras President

US-backed businessman Nasry “Tito” Asfura officially assumed office on Tuesday, beginning his presidency amid a political crisis that cast doubt on the legitimacy of his election and drew scrutiny over the support he received from former US President Donald Trump.

The 67-year-old was sworn in at the National Congress for his 2026–2030 term before a limited audience of supporters. Congressional leader Tomas Zambrano administered the oath of office and placed the presidential sash on Asfura.

In his inaugural address, Asfura struck a conciliatory tone, urging humility and urgency in governance. “We must get to work with humility. Time is already running, and we must solve people’s problems in order to serve them,” he said.

The ceremony, held in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, was notably subdued. No international leaders attended, nor were representatives from neighbouring Guatemala or El Salvador present, breaking with tradition.

Asfura’s speech outlined his administration’s priorities, with a strong focus on security, social welfare, and education. He highlighted early progress in the education sector, announcing that 10 million textbooks had already been printed for first-grade pupils. Emphasising national unity, he declared that “Hondurans want peace.”

The tense electoral period leading up to the inauguration deeply divided the country. While Asfura’s supporters celebrated his victory, critics questioned the integrity of the process, alleging manipulation.

The ruling Libre party went as far as rejecting the official results, labelling the election fraudulent and dismissing Asfura’s win. The party also condemned Trump’s backing, describing it as foreign interference.

Addressing the divisions, Asfura called for unity during the ceremony. “Hondurans want peace and prosperity, and that is what we will focus on. A divided family cannot move forward, and Honduras is a great family that must be respected and work together for its future,” he said.

Ahead of his inauguration, Asfura had already begun shaping his international agenda, making visits to the United States—where he met senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio—and to Israel, where he held talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Asfura takes office in a deeply polarised political environment and has pledged to centre his presidency on restoring security and strengthening the economy.