Feb 16, 2026, 2:08 p.mFeb 16, 2026, 2:08 p.m
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the close relations between the two countries during a visit to Hungary.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Hungarian President Viktor Orban.Image: keystone
These are due to the excellent cooperation between the heads of state of both countries, he said at a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
“The Prime Minister and the President (Donald Trump) have a very, very close personal and working relationship,” he said.
When Trump took office at the beginning of last year, a “golden age” in Hungarian-American relations began, Orban agreed.
The Hungarian right-wing populist had already declared his unconditional support for Trump before Trump’s first election as US President in 2016, when he was the only head of government of an EU country.
As Orban further explained, he will take part in the first meeting of the “Peace Council” founded by Trump on Thursday (February 19). The body is supposed to oversee reconstruction and the post-war order in the Gaza Strip.
The 62-year-old has been Prime Minister of Hungary for the second time since 2010.Image: keystone
Many European states – including Germany – see the “Peace Council” as competition to the United Nations.
Rubio visits eurosceptic EU states
Rubio appeared at the Munich Security Conference last weekend. He then traveled first to the Slovakian capital Bratislava and then to Budapest. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is also considered a strong Trump sympathizer.
According to observers, the US Secretary of State’s travel stops made it clear to what extent the Trump administration is relying on the EU-sceptic and “illiberal” forces in Europe.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.Image: keystone
At the same time, Rubio probably wanted to strengthen the latter’s domestic policy with the odes to the unbreakable male friendship between his boss in the White House and Orban. Because the Hungarian is looking forward to a parliamentary election on April 12th, which he could lose.
His bourgeois-conservative challenger Peter Magyar is currently well ahead of him in the polls. (sda/dpa)