Marco Rubio Visits Trump Ally Viktor Orban Ahead of Hungary’s Elections

Marco Rubio arrived in Hungary on Sunday for talks with Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as the nationalist leader prepares for elections in which he faces a strong challenge from the opposition.

The stop in Budapest marks the final leg of Rubio’s fast-paced European tour, during which he addressed the Munich Security Conference and met another right-wing ally, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

US President Donald Trump has openly praised Orban, describing his record in Hungary as “phenomenal” in a social media post on Friday.

However, Orban, 62, faces a tough contest in Hungary’s April 12 parliamentary elections. Opinion polls indicate that his Fidesz party is trailing behind the TISZA party led by opposition figure Peter Magyar.

Speaking on Saturday, Orban vowed to continue battling what he called “pseudo-civil organisations, bought journalists, judges, politicians” — rhetoric reminiscent of Trump’s style. He also criticised what he termed the “oppressive machinery of Brussels,” renewing his long-running clashes with the European Union.

EU leaders have repeatedly accused Orban of undermining independent institutions, including the judiciary, academia, media, and civil society, as well as targeting minority groups.

Straining ties further is Orban’s close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin — another point of alignment with Trump.

Conciliatory tone

Rubio landed in Budapest Sunday evening and is scheduled to meet Orban Monday morning before returning to Washington.

His visits to Fico and Orban — both nationalist leaders seen as close to Trump and Putin and often at odds with the broader EU consensus — send a pointed diplomatic signal.

Addressing the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Rubio urged European leaders to support Trump’s efforts to defend Western civilisation against what he described as the threat of mass migration. At the same time, he sought to reassure allies about the US commitment to NATO and its stance on Greenland, with varying degrees of success.

While encouraging Europe to align with the US president’s vision, Rubio struck a more conciliatory tone in Bratislava on Sunday, saying: “We’re not asking Europe to be a vassal of the United States. We want to be your partner. We want to work with Europe. We want to work with our allies.”

Orban is among several leaders expected to travel to Washington next week for the inaugural meeting of Trump’s controversial “Board of Peace,” which critics argue is intended to sideline the UN Security Council.

Orban gained prominence among Trump supporters during the Syrian refugee crisis for his hardline stance on migration and has visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort multiple times.

Energy is also expected to feature in Monday’s discussions, as it did in Slovakia. During a 2025 visit to the White House, Trump granted Hungary an exemption from sanctions on Russian oil and gas imposed following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.