US President Donald Trump has expressed “complete and unconditional support” for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of the country’s April 12 general elections, joining other right-wing leaders across Europe.
Writing on his own Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump described Orbán – a right-wing populist leader with ties to the Kremlin who is campaigning on anti-Ukraine and anti-EU policies – as “a true friend, a fighter, and a WINNER.”
“I was proud to ENDORSE Viktor for re-election in 2022 and I am honored to do so again. Election Day is April 12, 2026. Hungary: GET OUT AND VOTE FOR VIKTOR Orban,” Trump wrote.
“VIKTOR Orban WILL NEVER LET THE GREAT PEOPLE OF HUNGARY DOWN. I AM WITH HIM ALL THE WAY!” he added.
The post is essentially a repost of an earlier Truth Social update on Feb. 5, with the only addition being “I AM WITH HIM ALL THE WAY” and “Election Day is April 12, 2026. Hungary: GET OUT AND VOTE FOR VIKTOR ORBAN.”
In the updates, Trump said Orbán is a politician who “fights tirelessly for his great country and people and sincerely loves them,” adding that he shares those same qualities.
“He fights tirelessly for his great country and people and sincerely loves them, just as I do for the United States of America,” Trump said, adding that relations between his administration and Budapest have flourished under Orbán.
In January, Orbán pledged not to send funds to Ukraine, praised Trump’s dramatic military intervention in Venezuela, and reaffirmed Hungary’s willingness to work with Russia in a combative New Year international press address for 2026.
Orbán visited Trump in November 2025 seeking an exemption from US sanctions targeting Russian oil and gas. Budapest has long argued that Russian energy is essential to its economy, even as the EU moves to phase it out following Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Orbán’s Russian ties loom over elections
According to Politico, the center-right opposition Tisza party has been polling ahead of Orbán’s ruling right-wing Fidesz party as of late February.
On Monday, the opposition accused the Orbán government of treason by passing confidential EU information to Moscow. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has admitted that he has been in contact with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during EU meetings but denied any wrongdoing.
Orbán has been campaigning by portraying Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky as threats to Hungary’s security and economy, arguing that support for Kyiv could drag Hungary into war and reinforcing the message by prominently featuring Zelensky in campaign materials.
The Orbán administration has also clashed with Kyiv over Russian oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline, escalating tensions through a series of disputes. Hungarian authorities seized cash from an armored convoy belonging to a Ukrainian state-owned bank days after Szijjarto visited Moscow, while Budapest vetoed a key EU financial aid package for Kyiv shortly after.
Kyiv eventually agreed, with EU assistance, to reopen the pipeline.