Trump Meets With Hungarian Leader Viktor Orban, Discussions Focus on Border Security
Former President Donald Trump met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Florida, with the 2 buying and selling reward.
Former President Donald Trump met with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida on Friday, with the previous president praising Mr. Orban as a “unbelievable chief,” whereas the Hungarian conservative mentioned President Trump is somebody who can “convey us peace.”
Over the previous a number of years, President Trump and Mr. Orban have on quite a few events directed phrases of reward in direction of one different, with the previous president describing the Hungarian chief as a key determine within the worldwide conservative motion.
Mr. Orban traveled to Florida on Friday to go to President Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence, the place he was given a tour of the residence and took half in an hour-long assembly with senior aides.
The Trump marketing campaign mentioned in a readout of the assembly that President Trump and Mr. Orban met “to debate a variety of points affecting Hungary and the US, together with the paramount significance of robust and safe borders to guard the sovereignty of every nation.”
Mr. Orban is admired by many conservatives in the US for his powerful immigration insurance policies and his ardent protection of nationwide sovereignty.
President Trump singled out Mr. Orban’s powerful immigration insurance policies for reward in a put up on social media after the assembly.
“Hungary is a Protected Nation due to his Sturdy Immigration Insurance policies, and so long as he’s in cost, it at all times shall be,” he mentioned in a put up on Fact Social.
Mr. Orban has confronted criticism in some circles for his self-proclaimed intolerant tendencies, shut ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his opposition to Western funding for the Ukraine struggle.
‘Improbable Chief’
President Trump joked concerning the criticism Mr. Orban has confronted for his supposed authoritarian inclinations in a short speech at Mar-a-Lago, a video of which was shared on social media by the Hungarian chief.
Mr. Orban “is a non-controversial determine as a result of he says, ‘that is the best way it’s going to be,’ and that’s the top of it,” President Trump mentioned, drawing laughter from the room stuffed with attendees at his Florida resort.
“Proper? He’s the boss,“ President Trump continued, earlier than including in a extra critical tone, ”No—he’s an excellent chief, unbelievable chief.”
For his half, Mr. Orban took to X to specific the view {that a} second Trump presidency would contribute to world peace.
In the meantime, President Joe Biden had harsh phrases of criticism over the Trump–Orban assembly.
“You already know who he’s assembly with at the moment down in Mar-a-Lago? Orbán of Hungary, who’s acknowledged flatly that he doesn’t thinks democracy works, he’s searching for dictatorship,” President Biden mentioned throughout a marketing campaign cease in Pennsylvania on Friday.
“I see a future the place we defend democracy, not diminish it,” he added.
Mr. Orban served as prime minister from 1998 to 2002, earlier than returning to the place in 2010.
‘Convey Us Peace’
In Could 2023, the Hungarian chief spoke to Republicans and European allies on the second annual assembly of the Conservative Political Motion Coalition (CPAC) Europe in Budapest, Hungary.
Throughout his ready remarks, Mr. Orban claimed there wouldn’t be a army battle in Jap Europe if President Trump had been in workplace.
“I’m positive if President Trump could be the president, there could be no struggle in Ukraine and Europe,” Mr. Orban mentioned on the time. “Come again, Mr. President. Make America nice once more and produce us peace.”
Mr. Orban has known as Hungary an “incubator” the place experiments on the way forward for conservative insurance policies are carried out.
Hungary is the place the place we didn’t simply speak about defeating the progressives and liberals and inflicting a conservative Christian political flip, however we really did it,” Mr. Orban mentioned.
He additionally decried liberalism as a “virus,” criticized “woke tradition,” and rejected the “LGBTQ foyer.”
Mr. Orban has confronted a torrent of criticism in some circles over his numerous positions, together with with respect to Ukraine.
The Hungarian chief has mentioned he believes Kyiv can’t win the struggle and that one of the best ways to resolve the battle is to pursue a right away ceasefire after negotiations.
Mr. Orban has been a fierce critic of Western arms shipments to Ukraine, arguing that it solely serves to lengthen the struggle, resulting in extra devastation of Ukraine and lack of life.
Andrew Moran contributed to this report.