US Endorses Hungarian Far-Right Leader Viktor Orban in Upcoming Election

In yet another case of unabashed interference in European domestic politics, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday announced that President Donald Trump has endorsed far-right leader Viktor Orban in Hungary’s election. “I can say to you with confidence that President Trump is deeply committed to your success because your success is our success. The president has an extraordinarily close relationship to the prime minister, he does, and it has had tangible benefits,” said Rubio at a press conference with Orban. Rubio arrived in Hungary after visiting Slovakia on Sunday to hold talks with Prime Minister Robert Fico, another far-right leader. Trump and his allies like Vice President JD Vance and billionaire Elon Musk have blatantly interfered in European politics and elections in the second term. They have not just endorsed far-right candidates against moderates but have also campaigned for them. In Germany, Trump and Vance endorsed far-right, neo-Nazi AfD and Musk joined a rally of the party. In Poland, Trump endorsed Karol Nawrocki and US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced it at a conservative conference in Polish capital Warsaw. In the UK, Musk has vowed to topple Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of Labour and put his weight behind far-right Reform UK. In France, the administration has supported far-right National Rally. Orban has held power in Hungary since 2010 and implemented an ultraconservative agenda that has seen curb of women’s right to abortions, crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights, promotion of Christian nationalism, pursuit of anti-migrant and pronatalist policies. Since assuming office in 2010, Orban has driven Hungary into Russia’s orbit. He is Trump’s leading champion in the European Union (EU) and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ally, who frequently seeks to tank Ukraine-related proposals in the bloc. Even though Hungarian elections are not expected to be free and fair owing to Orban’s crackdown on political opponents, AFP reported that his Fidesz party is behind opposition leader Peter Magyar of TISZA party. Hungary will go to polls on April 12. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi held technical talks with Iran's FM ahead of key nuclear negotiations in Geneva. Indirect US-Iran talks on Iran's nuclear program are set for February 17, with both sides sending delegations. Tensions rise as Iran conducts military drills in the Strait of Hormuz and insists on sanctions relief for nuclear limits. Get the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.