U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the international peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on October 13, 2025. Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla
As the media notes BBC News
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, expressed his support for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in 2026. The comment came during a peaceful summit in the Middle East in Egypt on October 13.
“Viktor. We love Viktor. Viktor, that’s how I call him (victor means ‘winner’ in Latin – ed.). You’re fantastic. Okay, I know that many people disagree with me, but I am the only one who matters”
– President of the United States, Donald Trump
In addition, Trump stressed that Orban is a great leader and reminded how he previously supported the Hungarian prime minister during past elections when Orban won.
“He won with a 28-point lead. So this time you will achieve even better results. You will have more elections, and you will achieve great results, and we value and support you 100%”
– President of the United States, Donald Trump
Political Context and U.S. Reaction
The next parliamentary elections in Hungary are scheduled for April 2026. Orban’s main opponent is Péter Magyar and his party Tisa. According to the BBC, most national polls give Tisa a lead of about 9–18 percentage points over Fidesz, while the government-loyal analytical center Viewpoint Institute predicts Orban’s lead.
In September, the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs rejected the government led by Orban’s bid to lift the immunity of Magyar. On August 14, Magyar accused Russia of interfering in the elections and using intelligence services to undermine his campaign against Prime Minister Viktor Orban. If Orban is skeptical about supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia, then the Tisa party does not oppose Ukraine’s membership in the EU and NATO, but it opposes accelerating the accession process. Last year Magyar visited Kyiv and Transcarpathia.
Thus, there are differing views between the EU and the United States regarding Orban’s role in the region, but Trump expressed hope for continued cooperation with Orban on issues of stability and security in Central Europe.
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