April 7, 2026, 4:32 p.mApril 7, 2026, 4:32 p.m
American Vice President JD Vance supported Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban with undisguised praise during a visit shortly before the general election.
“The President of the United States (Donald Trump) and the Prime Minister of Hungary were able to do wonderful things together,” he said at a joint press conference with Orban in Budapest.
JD Vance traveled to Hungary to support Viktor Orban in the election campaign.Image: keystone
Vance had recently arrived in the Hungarian capital under enormous security precautions. Entire streets were cordoned off, as were the access routes to Budapest international airport. Airline passengers had to walk 35 to 40 minutes with their luggage to reach the airport, Hungarian media reported.
Vance praised his Hungarian host at the press conference as a “wise statesman” who he and Trump were happy to listen to in order to advance the – currently stalled – peace efforts to resolve Russia’s war against Ukraine. “Viktor was better than anyone to help us understand what do the Ukrainians need, what do the Russians need to achieve peace,” he said.
Orban is clearly behind in the polls
Orban is facing a parliamentary election next Sunday, which he could lose. Most polls show his challenger Peter Magyar’s Tisza party well ahead of Orban’s Fidesz party. In the EU, the right-wing populist head of government is criticized for dismantling democracy and the rule of law. His closeness to Russian President Vladimir Putin is also striking, whose narratives he allows to be spread in the media he controls.
Vance urged Hungarian voters not to pay attention to who is for or against Europe or the USA, but who is there for them, the Hungarian people. “I saw a man who fought fiercely for Hungary’s interests and I am here to support him in this election cycle,” he said, referring to Orban. However, election researchers assume that Vance’s visit will have little influence on the dynamics of the Hungarian election campaign.
Vance rails against the EU’s “bureaucrats”.
At the same time, Vance took a hard line against the European Union and its officials – its “bureaucrats”. With his trip to Budapest he wanted to “send a message to everyone, but especially to the bureaucrats in Brussels who have done everything they could to keep the Hungarian people down because they don’t like the leader who stands up for the Hungarian people,” he explained.
Vance distributes against the EU.Image: keystone
The “Brussels bureaucrats” tried to destroy the Hungarian economy and make it “less independent in terms of energy supply”. In fact, Hungary received an exemption right from the start when it came to purchasing Russian oil, which is subject to EU sanctions. However, this expires next year.
Orban emphasized that Hungary remains available to host a peace summit in Budapest proposed by Trump, “if the USA and the Russians think that one with them is necessary,” he said. According to Vance, Budapest is the “ideal place” for such a summit. However, in the shadow of the Iran war started by Trump and Israel, there is clearly no movement in efforts to achieve peace between Russia and Ukraine.
Washington works with whoever wins the election
In response to a journalist’s question about a possible election victory for Orban challenger Magyar, Vance said: “Of course we work with whoever wins the election. (…) But Viktor Orban will win this election and I am very confident that our positive relationship will continue. Isn’t that right, Viktor?” he said. “That’s the plan,” Orban replied.
Trump last expressed his support for Orban in March of this year: “He (Orban) has my complete and total approval,” Trump said in a video message to a conference in Budapest, which Orban also attended. “I hope he wins (the election) and wins it hands down,” Trump continued. Orban is a “strong leader”.
The Hungarian had already allied himself with the US president before Trump’s first term in office, which lasted from 2017 to 2021. Many in Trump’s circles, including Vance, see Orban, who has ruled continuously since 2010, as a role model in creating a semi-authoritarian system of power. (hkl/sda/dpa)