JD Vance goes to Budapest<\/a><\/h4>\nJD Vance rallies for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest ahead of a pivotal election, drawing attention from US conservatives. Panelists discuss Orban’s tight re-election bid, facing a flagging economy and corruption allegations that could end his 16-year hold on power. Critics highlight his controversial economic strategy and ties to Vladimir Putin, including blocking European Union aid to Ukraine, making the race unpredictable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nNEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\nThe U.S. and Europe are watching closely as Hungarians turned out in record numbers to vote Sunday in a high-stakes election that sets up Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n, supported by President Donald Trump, against his former political ally, P\u00e9ter Magyar.<\/p>\n
Trailing in the opinion polls, Orb\u00e1n received a major boost earlier this week when Vice President JD Vance visited the country, making clear what the administration\u2019s position was on the importance of having a pro-U.S. candidate in the heart of Europe, as so many of its continental allies have proven lackluster, most notably for a lack of help in the war against Iran.<\/p>\n
In his remarks, Vance made clear why he was there. “The reason why we’re doing it is because we thought there was so much garbage happening against Viktor in this election that we had to show that there are actually a lot of people and a lot of friends across the world who recognize that Viktor and his government are doing a good job, and they’re important partners for peace,” he said at the Mathias Corvinus Collegium,\u00a0a private university in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. “That’s why we’re here, but ultimately the Hungarian people are going to be sovereigns because that’s how it should be.”<\/p>\n
TRUMP CALLS INTO VANCE-ORBAN HUNGARY EVENT: ‘MY KIND OF PEOPLE’<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n![\"U.S.](\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1200\/675\/jd-vance-hungary-donald-trump-call.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1\")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n\n\nVice President JD Vance laughs at the sound of President Donald Trump calling in as he was delivering remarks at a Day of Friendship event with Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n at MTK Sportpark in Budapest, Hungary, on April 7, 2026.<\/span> (Jonathan Ernst\/Reuters)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFollowing Vance\u2019s return to the U.S., Trump weighed in on Truth Social Friday: “My Administration stands ready to use the full economic might of the United States to strengthen Hungary\u2019s Economy, as we have done for our great allies in the past, if Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n and the Hungarian People ever need it. We are excited to invest in the future prosperity that will be generated by Orb\u00e1n\u2019s continued leadership!”<\/p>\n
Beloved by many older and more rural Hungarians and reviled by detractors, Orb\u00e1n has emerged as the country\u2019s most consequential leader since its transition to democracy at the end of the Cold War. Still, the election campaign has become intense.<\/p>\n
Orb\u00e1n\u2019s strained relationship with the European Union comes from his positioning on Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine, his country\u2019s firm support of Israel and his hard stance on not accepting migrants, which led to EU financial sanctions for his refusal to open the country’s border to foreigners.<\/p>\n
During the\u00a016-year Orb\u00e1n government, the Hungarian economy has grown relatively quickly for an EU country.\u00a0The country\u2019s GDP per capita (what the average person earns annually) rose to nearly $17,000 last year, up from approximately $12,000 in 2014, according to Trading Economics data.\u00a0However, it\u2019s not all good. Inflation has recently been relatively high at an annual rate of 4.9%, and business sentiment has been consistently negative since August 2022.<\/p>\n
NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The U.S. and Europe are watching closely as Hungarians turned out in record numbers to vote Sunday in a high-stakes election that sets up Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n, supported by President Donald Trump, against his former political ally, P\u00e9ter Magyar.<\/p>\n Trailing in the opinion polls, Orb\u00e1n received a major boost earlier this week when Vice President JD Vance visited the country, making clear what the administration\u2019s position was on the importance of having a pro-U.S. candidate in the heart of Europe, as so many of its continental allies have proven lackluster, most notably for a lack of help in the war against Iran.<\/p>\n In his remarks, Vance made clear why he was there. “The reason why we’re doing it is because we thought there was so much garbage happening against Viktor in this election that we had to show that there are actually a lot of people and a lot of friends across the world who recognize that Viktor and his government are doing a good job, and they’re important partners for peace,” he said at the Mathias Corvinus Collegium,\u00a0a private university in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. “That’s why we’re here, but ultimately the Hungarian people are going to be sovereigns because that’s how it should be.”<\/p>\n TRUMP CALLS INTO VANCE-ORBAN HUNGARY EVENT: ‘MY KIND OF PEOPLE’<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Vice President JD Vance laughs at the sound of President Donald Trump calling in as he was delivering remarks at a Day of Friendship event with Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n at MTK Sportpark in Budapest, Hungary, on April 7, 2026.<\/span> (Jonathan Ernst\/Reuters)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Following Vance\u2019s return to the U.S., Trump weighed in on Truth Social Friday: “My Administration stands ready to use the full economic might of the United States to strengthen Hungary\u2019s Economy, as we have done for our great allies in the past, if Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n and the Hungarian People ever need it. We are excited to invest in the future prosperity that will be generated by Orb\u00e1n\u2019s continued leadership!”<\/p>\n Beloved by many older and more rural Hungarians and reviled by detractors, Orb\u00e1n has emerged as the country\u2019s most consequential leader since its transition to democracy at the end of the Cold War. Still, the election campaign has become intense.<\/p>\n Orb\u00e1n\u2019s strained relationship with the European Union comes from his positioning on Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine, his country\u2019s firm support of Israel and his hard stance on not accepting migrants, which led to EU financial sanctions for his refusal to open the country’s border to foreigners.<\/p>\n During the\u00a016-year Orb\u00e1n government, the Hungarian economy has grown relatively quickly for an EU country.\u00a0The country\u2019s GDP per capita (what the average person earns annually) rose to nearly $17,000 last year, up from approximately $12,000 in 2014, according to Trading Economics data.\u00a0However, it\u2019s not all good. Inflation has recently been relatively high at an annual rate of 4.9%, and business sentiment has been consistently negative since August 2022.<\/p>\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
![\"Peter](\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/1200\/675\/Hungary-Protest.jpg?ve=1&tl=1\")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n![\"U.S.](\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/1200\/675\/GettyImages-1143562490.jpg?ve=1&tl=1\")
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