A planned U.S. vice presidential trip may shift Hungary’s campaign atmosphere and test Washington’s ties with Europe in the final weeks before the vote.
Washington, March 18 – U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance plans to visit Hungary in the coming days to express support for the long-time nationalist Prime Minister Orbán, who is expecting difficult elections next month.
The trip could take place after Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Budapest in February with public support for Orbán ahead of his toughest re-election campaign since coming to power in 2010. According to polls, Orbán trails his rivals in the final month before the April 12 election.
The exact timing of Vance’s visit has not yet been set, and plans could change, as officials may stay in Washington while the air war between the United States and Israel against Iran continues.
President Donald Trump said that due to this war he would postpone his trip to China.
Orbán, one of Trump’s closest allies in Europe, has long been at odds with the EU on various issues, including Ukraine. Standing up to Brussels, he maintains close ties with Moscow, refuses to supply weapons to Ukraine, and says Kyiv will never become a member of the EU.
Trump has voiced support for conservative leaders around the world, recently backing Argentine leader Javier Milei and Japanese politician Sanae Takagi.
Vance has become an influential vice president, who often plays a key role in foreign policy and is deeply involved in the affairs of this realm. He is also considered the most likely contender to succeed Trump in 2028.
During the trip to Hungary Rubio noted that Orbán’s leadership is crucial for U.S. interests, but further warm ties depend on whether Orbán wins again in the election. He also expressed Washington’s willingness to provide financial aid to Budapest if needed.
According to polls, in the final month of the campaign, the ruling Fidesz party lags behind the opposition coalition led by former government insider Péter Magyar. The election takes place against a backdrop of slow economic growth and the consequences of inflation after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with serious implications for Europe amid the rise of conservative and far-right movements.
European Context and Future Implications
This issue underscores how closely the United States is watching developments in Hungary and how these positions will affect relations among Brussels, Warsaw, and other European capitals, as well as security and economic cooperation in Europe in the coming years.