The Trump administration is ignoring the conference and has sent Vice President J.D. Vance to Hungary, where he will campaign for that country’s longtime Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is trailing dramatically in the polls ahead of upcoming elections on April 12.
Orban, who has been in or near power since the late 1990s, has become a leading figure for the global far-right and is running for his fifth consecutive term leading the Eastern European nation as prime minister – a post he has held since 2010.
At odds with the rest of the EU over his loyalty to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his opposition to supporting Ukraine’s defense, Orbán has proudly declared that he has transformed Hungary into an “illiberal” democracy.
Despite allegations that Orbán and his Fidesz party have captured the state by taking control of Hungary’s justice system, its media, and its universities – prompting the label of “free but not fair elections” – the Trump administration has viewed Orbán’s Hungary as a blueprint for success rather than a warning about good governance.
Hungary is consistently ranked as the most corrupt nation in the 27-member European Union and is also ranked among the poorest countries in the bloc.
Vance to stump far-right Trump and Orbán
Vence will join Orbán, who has never shied away from repeating Donald Trump’s lie that he won the 2020 US presidential election – he did not – for a press conference after an official meeting on Tuesday morning.
Vance will later appear with Orbán at a campaign rally, as the incumbent looks to face a serious challenge from centre-right candidate Peter Magyar and his Tisza party.
Orban, whom right-wing leaders elsewhere see as a role model, currently trails by double digits in opinion polls and his administration has been embarrassed by recent revelations of possible collusion with Russia as well as spying on political opponents.
Nevertheless, Trump and his Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement praise Orbán’s harsh actions on immigration, gay rights, and freedom of the press, and his support of “Western Christian values”.
In recent days, other far-right leaders – from France’s Marine Le Pen and the Netherlands’ Geert Wilders to Argentine President Javier Miliu – have all spoken out in support of Orbán’s re-election, even appearing in campaign videos.
America broke tradition by participating in foreign elections
The Trump administration has repeatedly rewarded Orban’s tough stance on Ukraine, even exempting Hungary from sanctions on Russian oil and gas.
In February, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Orbán during a visit in Budapest, “President Trump is deeply committed to your success, because your success is our success.”
Trump, who has openly embraced far-right leaders globally, called Orbán “a fantastic man” who has his “full and complete support.”
Traditionally, the US has shied away from actively participating in foreign elections, so Vance’s visit just days before voting is a highly unusual move.
Although Orbán welcomes the US support, he has lashed out against fellow EU leaders commenting on the vote – calling it a violation of Hungary’s sovereignty and election interference.
Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher