JD Vance visits Hungary to support Viktor Orbán
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban attends a bilateral lunch hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., Nov. 7, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán enjoys the “complete and total support” of U.S. President Donald Trump, despite facing a tough challenge in the upcoming elections, which are expected to be pivotal in Europe this year.
On Tuesday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance will visit Hungary to show solidarity with Orbán and speak at an election rally in Budapest before the weekend’s elections. While many European leaders have rallied behind Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, Orbán has maintained close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, going as far as to suggest that the EU poses a greater threat to Hungary than Russia.
Recent polls indicate that Orbán and his Fidesz party are trailing behind their main rival, the pro-European opposition party Tisza, led by Peter Magyar, who is poised to take over after Orbán’s 16-year tenure.
This potential change in leadership comes at a time when issues like migration, energy prices, corruption, and adherence to the rule of law dominate discussions in Hungary.
The European Commission has suspended EU funds for the country, amounting to around 17 billion euros, due to rule of law violations.
Magyar has prioritized unlocking these funds and has expressed willingness to strengthen ties with the EU, possibly even considering adopting the Euro.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Magyar emphasized the importance of finding common ground, stating that “reaching compromise” is an essential skill.
Lawyer and former government insider Peter Magyar speaks to the people at a demonstration he organized in front of the prosecutor general’s office on March 26, 2024 in Budapest, Hungary.
Janos Kummer | Getty Images News | Getty Images
An analysis by the German Marshall Fund suggests that a Magyar-led government could shift away from Orbán’s confrontational foreign policy, potentially aligning Budapest more closely with Western allies on issues like countering Russia.
However, a Magyar administration is unlikely to completely deviate from Orbán-era policies, especially on contentious issues such as migration and support for Ukraine.
The election campaign has also been marked by concerns over energy security, with Hungary currently embroiled in a dispute with Ukraine over oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline.
Orbán has accused Magyar of colluding with the EU and Ukraine to disrupt Hungary’s energy supply, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the country’s access to affordable Russian oil.
The potential for external interference, particularly from Russia, and the spread of misinformation via social media have been closely monitored throughout the campaign.
