U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday enthusiastically endorsed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban 's bid to serve a fifth straight term after upcoming elections in April, emphasizing during a visit to Budapest the strong personal relationship between the nationalist leader and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Orban, who has led Hungary since 2010, is one of Trump’s most vocal supporters in the European Union, and has actively curried the U.S. president’s favor leading up to the April 12 vote in which he will face the toughest challenge of his last 16 years in power.
Rubio was in the Hungarian capital for meetings with Orban and his government where he signed an agreement on U.S.-Hungarian civilian nuclear cooperation that includes the possible purchase of compact nuclear reactors — known as small modular reactors or SMRs — as well as U.S.-supplied nuclear fuel and spent fuel storage technology.
At a news conference in Budapest, Rubio said U.S.-Hungary relations — which both he and Orban described as experiencing a “golden age” under Trump — go beyond mere diplomatic cooperation.
“I’m going to be very blunt with you," Rubio said. "The prime minister and the president have a very, very close personal relationship and working relationship, and I think it has been beneficial to our two countries.”
“That person-to-person connection that you’ve established with the president has made all the difference in the world in building this relationship,” Rubio continued, addressing Orban. “President Trump is deeply committed to your success because your success is our success.”
Rubio's stop in Hungary followed a visit to Slovakia on Sunday after he previously attended the Munich Security Conference in Germany.
Led by euroskeptic populists who oppose support for Ukraine and vocally back Trump, Slovakia and Hungary are both friendly territory for Rubio in his push to shore up energy agreements with both Central European countries.
Widely considered Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most reliable advocate in the EU, Orban has maintained warm relations with the Kremlin despite its war against Ukraine while building ties with Trump and his MAGA — short for the 2016 Trump campaign slogan “Make America Great Again” — movement.
Orban has remained firmly committed to purchasing Russian energy despite efforts by the EU to wean off such supplies, and received an exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian energy after a November meeting in the White House with Trump.
Rubio would not specify on Monday how long that exemption would last as the EU plans to phase out Russian fossil fuels entirely by the end of 2027.
Apparently trusting that his political and personal affinity with Trump could pay even greater dividends, Orban and his government have sought to woo the U.S. leader to Hungary before the pivotal April elections — hoping such a high-profile visit and endorsement would push Orban, who is trailing in most polls, over the finish line.
On Monday, Orban told Rubio that his government is ready to host any future trilateral peace summit between the United States, Russia and Ukraine, and that Trump has an “open invitation” to Budapest.
He also claimed that Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, were seeking to interfere in Hungary’s upcoming elections by criticizing Orban’s opposition to providing weapons or financial aid to Kyiv and threats to block Ukraine’s eventual membership in the EU.
Many in MAGA and the broader conservative world view Hungary as a shining example of successful conservative nationalism, despite the erosion of its democratic institutions and its status as one of the EU's poorest countries.
Orban has riffed on Trump's popular slogan and declared that he and his movement seek to “Make Europe Great Again.”
In turn, Trump has praised Orban’s firm opposition to immigration, exemplified by a fence his government erected on Hungary’s southern border in 2015 as hundreds of thousands of refugees fled Syria and other countries in the Middle East and Africa.
Other U.S. conservatives admire Orban’s hostility to LGBTQ+ rights. His government last year banned the popular Budapest Pride celebration and allowed facial recognition technology to be used to identify anyone participating despite the ban. It has also effectively banned same-sex adoption and same-sex marriage, and disallowed transgender individuals from changing their sex in official documents.
Budapest has hosted several annual iterations of the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, and another was hastily rescheduled this year to fall in March, just before Hungary's elections.
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38 Comments
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TaiwanIsNotChina
Rubio is going to have a lot of explaining to do to his children: authoritarian good when Trump/Putin/Orban does it.
Underworld
So does Putin.
Strange bedfellows.
JJE
Just simply false to imply Putin has endorsed Orban - he hasn't.
The latter is smeared with that dishonest brush because he has an independent foreign policy and sticks up for his own country.
Underworld
JJE
https://www.hungarianconservative.com/articles/current/vladimir-putin-endorse-viktor-orban-election-2026-eu/
JJE
Speaking positively of someone while correctly the identifying the undercurrents of domestic politics is not necessarily an official endorsement in the Western sense.
Always important to observe Orban was arrested by the communist secret police back in the day.
Monty
Orban is a straight forward idiot!
One of the worst politician ever!
theFu
The US political leaders need to shut up about foreign elections, unless it is clear there will be fraud. Sadly, Trump's boy's are still wasting time looking for fraud from 2020 elections in the US when there wasn't any that mattered and has never been any proof that any of the Trump claims (parroted by his followers) have happened, anywhere.
That includes claims that mail in voting is full of fraud: https://www.factcheck.org/2026/02/trump-and-musk-amplify-long-ago-debunked-mail-in-vote-fraud-claim/
It isn't. It is just really convenient for many Americans and if voting it really easy, the GOP loses.
GuruMick
Foreign leaders or others should never endorse candidates in another countries elections.
This is basic diplomacy 101
P_C
of course the tDump MAGA numbskulls endorse a thug.
u_s__reamer
Little Marco would, wouldn't he? Endorsing the gross Viktor is pure HMV coming from one bird of a feather to another, nasty chickenhawks all that need to have their wings clipped if democracy is to be able to breathe again.
ebisen
The most corrupt government in the history of EU - sustained by the russians and the loony americans :) . This is what Orban represents currently. But don't worry, he'll lose the elections is April for sure.
wallace
The Hungarian prime minister is lagging behind former ally Péter Magyar in election polls ahead of the April vote.
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
Too bad he will be voted out in April. I wonder if the energy project will survive…
R B Quinn
Kremlin sympathizers … doing what they do best!
okinawarides
On Monday, Orban told Rubio that his government is ready to host any future trilateral peace summit between the United States, Russia and Ukraine, and that Trump has an “open invitation” to Budapest.
Excellent suggestion. Both Orban and Trump have been relentless in their efforts to bring peace to Ukraine. That is why Brussels and its mouthpieces hate them both so much.
okinawarides
MontyToday 07:09 am JST Orban is a straight forward idiot! One of the worst politician ever
Obviously not to the Hungarian public who delivered him 5 very solid electoral victories. And that is whom Orban focuses on looking after, his Hungarian electorate not pandering to Brussels interests.
*Viktor Orbán has won five general elections to serve as the Prime Minister of Hungary -*
*1998:** Won his first election as Prime Minister, leading a conservative coalition until 2002.*
*2010:** Regained power in a landslide victory following eight years in opposition.*
*2014:** Secured his second consecutive term (third overall) with a two-thirds "supermajority" in parliament.*
*2018:** Won his third consecutive term (fourth overall), maintaining his party's supermajority.*
*2022:** Won his fourth consecutive term (fifth overall) in what was described as a "crushing victory". *
HopeSpringsEternal
Orban's been a GREAT US partner, why US and Hungary agreed and announced a new civilian nuclear reactor. One reason Hungary relies on Russian energy is they have no ports, so pipelines a must. Nuclear will help.
Trump Admin strongly endorses Orban for re-election in April, SoS Rubio made that point countless times in the 'presser', how Hungary benefits as a result of Orban's great long-term relationship with Trump etc.
Orban, like growing number of other countries in Central Europe, no longer funding Ukraine war, and is not a party to recent EU $105B Bond issuance to fund Ukraine etc.
Orban and Hungary seeks 100% stability with Russia, not WWIII, much like US Govt. & National Security Strategy
plasticmonkey
= Putinesque Propaganda
BB
Rubio sold his soul a long time ago. He'll not age well, slumping under the weight of all the evil he's had to stomach.
HopeSpringsEternal
Orban clever politician, been in politics for about 40 years, 20 years as head of state. Recommend people listen to this press conference, Orban, a big believer in national sovereignty, not a fan at all of Brussels Bureaucrats, so busy destroying Europe in his view
HopeSpringsEternal
Just listen to Orban at this Press Conference, Orban asolutely opposes the Ukraine proxy war and NATO expansion efforts, why Hungary is NOT funding Ukraine, there's no room for interpretation, he's crystal CLEAR
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
Which is why he is losing in the polls. Most Hungarians support Ukraine.
HopeSpringsEternal
We'll find out, but naturally you don't speak for voters in Hungary, who are very well attuned to hopeless reality in Ukraine, they want no part of this tragic failure, as many ethnic Ukrainian Hungarians now moving back to Hungary!
Wasabi
trvmp interfering in Europe business, why am I not surprise.
geronimo2006
Trump will be watching closely to see how Orban rigs the elections. Hungarys economy is doing poorly, corruption is rising, inflation is high and Orban is becoming less popular. Sound familiar?
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
We'll find out, but naturally you don't speak for voters in Hungary, who are very well attuned to the reality that if they don’t support Ukraine, they will be invaded next.
HopeSpringsEternal
Let's put it this way, nobody from Hungary is moving to Ukraine for good reason, Hungary's doing very well, and Orban's attracting record US Corp. investment, Trump's pitching Hungary hard at every chance, Orban's a rare leader that Trump truly admires, smart with real conviction, battle tested etc.
HopeSpringsEternal
Even the Chinese love Orban, can anyone name another country leader with great relations with Trump and Xi?!
Orban's a special talent, as is Hungary, exceptional people
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
Trump’s endorsement, like Putin’s, doesn’t hold much weight. People despise Trump in Europe.
HopeSpringsEternal
And it goes without saying Putin loves Orban, must be something credible about this Orban as Xi, Trump and Putin are nobody's fools, why Hungary doing so well with births, GDP growth, low crime, etc. while EU a dumpster fire
virusrex
Add Kim Jong Un to the group of good friends and you will have a much more clear idea why.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Polymarket has Magyar with a 60% chance of winning. Turns out surrendering to russia is not popular.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Yes, disgusting dictators can be well educated or skilled grifters.
HopeSpringsEternal
Can't imagine many of Globalists now trying to 'rig' prediction markets are betting on Orban. Kamala Harris also a heavy odds favorite, same crew will lose big again
TaiwanIsNotChina
In reality, Harris did not do well in the betting market, so Magyar is still very likely to PM.
HopeSpringsEternal
Hungarians just look around EU and realize, they have it so good on a relative basis with record investment/FDI from US and China, rising births, low inflation, Govt. fiscal sanity, low crime, no mass migration. etc. EU = Opposite
Any wonder Orban's so confident? He's delivering results, so much so that Trump, Xi and Putin endorse him
HopeSpringsEternal
Harris did very well until she started speaking in late Sept, then her 66% odds of winning steadily sunk. Orban has delivered for Hungary, voters want stability, not chaos
Speed
I can't believe the US is snuggling up with Orban. What a fascist regime the US has become.