US President Donald Trump has backed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, urging Hungarian citizens to "go out and vote" for him in Sunday's parliamentary elections.
In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump described Orban as his "true friend, fighter and winner" and as a "strong leader" with a "proven record of delivering phenomenal results."
“Orban fights tirelessly for his great country and people and loves them, just as I do for the United States of America,” Trump wrote. “Viktor works hard to protect Hungary, grow the economy, create jobs, promote trade, stop illegal immigration, and ensure law and order!”
Trump also credited Orban with fostering "new dimensions of cooperation" between the US and Hungary and said he looks forward to continuing to work with him.
"Hungary: GET OUT AND VOTE FOR VIKTOR ORBAN," he urged, stressing that Orban has his "full and total support" for re-election.
Trump has consistently supported his longtime ally ahead of the vote. Earlier this week, he even called a rally in Budapest via Vice President JD Vance's phone, telling supporters: "I'm with Orbán all the way."
Vance, who visited Budapest to support Orban's campaign, described Hungary as a "laboratory" for sovereign and conservative politics and accused the EU of "interference" in the vote.
The election is expected to be close, with Orban facing a serious challenge from Peter Magyar and his pro-EU Tisza Party, which leads Fidesz in some polls. Tisza has campaigned on anti-corruption reforms and repairing ties with Brussels, which has long criticized Orban over judicial independence, media control, immigration policy, his independent stance on Russia and China, and his policy on Ukraine.
