Hungary Elections: Trump Backs Orbán in Tight Race

Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections on April 12, calling him a “true friend” and “winner.” The endorsement, posted on Trump’s Truth Social platform on March 25, comes as Orbán faces a significant challenge from Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza party, in the polls.

“Hungary: Go vote for Viktor Orbán. He is a fantastic guy, a battler, and a winner, and he has my Complete and Total Endorsement for reelection as Prime Minister of Hungary!” Trump wrote in the post. He further lauded Orbán as a strong leader who has “shown the entire world what’s possible when you defend your borders, your culture, your heritage, your sovereignty and your values.”

This is not the first time Trump has voiced support for Orbán. He previously endorsed the Hungarian prime minister in 2022 and again earlier this month, according to reports. Trump too highlighted the strengthened relationship between the United States and Hungary during his own administration, attributing it largely to Orbán’s leadership. He expressed a desire to continue close collaboration should he return to office.

Orbán, who has been in power for over 16 years, is currently trailing Magyar in opinion polls. Magyar has accused Orbán’s Fidesz party of blackmail, alleging the use of a secretly recorded sex tape to discredit him. Fidesz has denied the accusations.

The endorsement arrives as Orbán’s government faces increasing international scrutiny for its stance on the war in Ukraine and its continued engagement with Russia. Hungary has been an outlier in Europe, obstructing EU military aid to Ukraine and downplaying Russian incursions into NATO airspace. In March, Hungary vetoed a €90 billion financial aid package for Ukraine, following a Russian drone strike that disrupted oil transit to the country.

The upcoming election is being closely watched across Europe, with several far-right leaders gathering in Budapest for a national-conservative conference over the weekend. Trump’s participation in the conference via video message underscored his alignment with Orbán and other nationalist politicians. Attendees included Santiago Abascal of Spain’s Vox, André Ventura of Portugal’s Chega, and Mateusz Morawiecki of Poland’s Law and Justice party.

The diplomatic friction between Budapest and the EU reached a breaking point following Hungary’s veto of the financial aid package for Ukraine. Orbán has accused Kyiv of “blackmail” in relation to the disruption of oil transit, further isolating Hungary within the European bloc.