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JD Vance goes to Budapest
JD Vance has thrown his support behind Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest, as the leader faces a crucial election that has garnered significant interest from American conservatives. Experts are scrutinizing Orban’s efforts to secure re-election amid challenges such as a struggling economy and allegations of corruption that threaten his 16-year tenure. Critics are also pointing to Orban’s contentious economic policies and his connections with Russian President Vladimir Putin, including his decision to block European Union aid to Ukraine, which adds a layer of unpredictability to the race.
The election has captured the attention of both the United States and Europe, as a record number of Hungarians head to the polls. This high-stakes contest pits Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has received an endorsement from former U.S. President Donald Trump, against his previous political associate, Péter Magyar.
With polls showing him trailing, Orban received a significant boost from Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Hungary earlier this week. Vance’s visit underscored the U.S. administration’s support for a pro-American leader in a strategically important region, especially given the perceived lack of support from other European allies, particularly in the conflict with Iran.
During his address, Vance made the purpose of his visit explicit. “We’re here because of the misinformation against Viktor in this election,” Vance stated at the Mathias Corvinus Collegium in Budapest. “We want to show that Viktor and his government have allies across the globe who appreciate their role as partners for peace. Ultimately, the choice belongs to the Hungarian people, as it should be.”
In a light-hearted moment, Vice President JD Vance chuckled when President Donald Trump called in during a Day of Friendship event with Prime Minister Viktor Orban at Budapest’s MTK Sportpark on April 7, 2026. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
Following Vance’s return to the U.S., Trump weighed in on Truth Social Friday: “My Administration stands ready to use the full economic might of the United States to strengthen Hungary’s Economy, as we have done for our great allies in the past, if Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the Hungarian People ever need it. We are excited to invest in the future prosperity that will be generated by Orbán’s continued leadership!”
Beloved by many older and more rural Hungarians and reviled by detractors, Orbán has emerged as the country’s most consequential leader since its transition to democracy at the end of the Cold War. Still, the election campaign has become intense.
Orbán’s strained relationship with the European Union comes from his positioning on Russia’s war against Ukraine, his country’s firm support of Israel and his hard stance on not accepting migrants, which led to EU financial sanctions for his refusal to open the country’s border to foreigners.
During the 16-year Orbán government, the Hungarian economy has grown relatively quickly for an EU country. The country’s GDP per capita (what the average person earns annually) rose to nearly $17,000 last year, up from approximately $12,000 in 2014, according to Trading Economics data. However, it’s not all good. Inflation has recently been relatively high at an annual rate of 4.9%, and business sentiment has been consistently negative since August 2022.
Péter Magyar speaks during a protest outside the Hungarian Interior Ministry building, in Budapest, Hungary, April 26, 2024. Magyar is leading the polls in April’s 2026 election. (Denes Erdos/AP)
The polls shows Magyar’s Tisza party with 50% of the vote and Orbán’s Fidesz party behind at 39% as of April 9, according to Politico. Magyar now poses the largest electoral threat to Orbán since 2010.
“The polls are going well for the opposition,” Daniel Wood, portfolio manager at William Blair Investment Management, told Fox News Digital. “If the opposition wins, there’s a chance that the EU unlocks the frozen funds, which are around 7% of the GDP.”
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the West Wing of the White House on May 13, 2019. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg)
Speaking to reporters outside a polling station Sunday, Orbán, 62, said the campaign had been “a great national moment on our side” and thanked activists and supporters for their work. “I’m here to win,” the Associated Press reported.
In an interview earlier in the week, Magyar complained the EU’s longest-serving leader has led the country on a “180-degree turn” in recent years, endangering its Western orientation while cozying up to Moscow. Yet despite that drift, “Hungarians still see that Hungary’s peace and development are guaranteed by membership of the European Union and NATO,” Magyar said. “I think this really will be a referendum on our country’s place in the world,” he told the Associated Press.
Results are expected later Sunday afternoon.