Vance to visit Hungary days before Orbán’s election challenge, foreign minister says

BUDAPEST, Hungary — U.S. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to visit Hungary just days before Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faces a crucial election on April 12, according to Hungary’s foreign minister.

Although Vance’s office has not officially confirmed the trip, his visit comes at a pivotal moment as Orbán seeks his fifth consecutive election victory amid a challenging race against the center-right Tisza party and its leader, Péter Magyar, who aims to restore Hungary’s democratic institutions and strengthen ties with Western allies.

Trailing in the polls, Orbán has been on a nationwide campaign tour to rally support, while Magyar has been testing Orbán’s dominance in Hungarian politics.

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó mentioned on a recent podcast that Vance’s visit is a result of the close relationship between Hungary and the United States, without specifying the exact date of the visit.

Vance’s planned trip follows Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent visit to Budapest, where he publicly supported Orbán’s candidacy, highlighting the strong ties between the two countries.

Orbán, a prominent supporter of former President Trump in the EU, has been actively seeking Trump’s endorsement ahead of the election, expressing his desire for Trump to visit Hungary before the crucial vote.

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This article contains contributions from AP writer Michelle L. Price.