During a recent debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump expressed his admiration for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Trump lauded Orbán as a strong and smart leader, citing Orbán's statement that the most respected and feared person is Donald Trump. Orbán, known for his right-wing populist views, has championed what he calls 'illiberal democracy,' which includes strict immigration policies and limitations on LGBTQ+ rights.
Despite criticism from the European Union for alleged violations of rule-of-law and democracy standards, Orbán has found support among some U.S. conservatives, including Trump and his allies. Orbán's tough stance on immigration, exemplified by the construction of a border fence in 2015, has garnered praise from conservatives like Tucker Carlson.
Orbán's efforts to boost Hungary's declining birth rate through family subsidies and loans have also been commended. His views on immigration and preserving traditional European values have resonated with groups like the Conservative Political Action Conference, where he received a standing ovation in 2022.
Orbán's close ties with Trump were further highlighted by his endorsement of Trump's candidacy in the 2020 election. The Hungarian leader has also aligned himself with Trump's stance on resolving the conflict in Ukraine, despite his warm relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Orbán's visit to Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in July, where they discussed peace efforts, underscored their shared goals. The exchange between Trump and Orbán during the debate drew criticism from Democrats, with Hillary Clinton labeling Orbán as a 'democracy-killing Hungarian dictator' and Tim Walz expressing concern over Trump's alignment with Orbán.
