Donald Trump & Viktor Orbán’s recent late-night call: A plan for Ukraine or strengthening ties?
The relationship between Viktor Orbán and Donald Trump has been exceptionally friendly since Trump’s election in 2016. The Hungarian Prime Minister was one of the first to publicly support the Republican politician, and this has been followed by mutual respect and support over the years.
During Trump’s first presidency, there was a significant improvement in the relationship between Hungary and the United States, with the US Ambassador to Hungary, David B. Cornstein, playing a key role, as Portfolio reported back in 2020.
Orbán and Trump: a supportive relationship
In 2020, Orbán made clear his desire to see Trump re-elected while praising the US President’s conservative policies. Euronews reported that the two leaders shared similar views on migration, national sovereignty, and the preservation of Christian values. Under Trump’s administration, Hungary and the US developed closer political and economic cooperation, which Orbán attributed to their friendly approach.
In 2022, Trump reiterated his support for Orbán ahead of the Hungarian elections, stressing that Orbán is a leader who “loves his country dearly” and plays an important role in preserving the nation’s security. HírTV reported that this message aligned well with Orbán’s political campaign, in which he emphasised the protection of national interests.
A phone call in the shadow of war
In recent months, the relationship between the two politicians has further strengthened. Index reported, based on US sources, that Viktor Orbán and Donald Trump recently had a telephone conversation. The call took place after a tense debate in the Oval Office between Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Republican Senator J.D. Vance. Although there is no official information on the content of the phone call, it is likely that the main topic was the Ukrainian-Russian war.
This development is particularly noteworthy because Orbán has repeatedly stated that he believes Trump could be the only political leader capable of bringing peace to Eastern Europe. The Hungarian Prime Minister has previously claimed that if Trump won the elections, he could quickly bring the conflict to an end, and Trump himself has frequently confirmed this in his campaign speeches.
Orbán and Trump have also discussed the issue of war in previous meetings, for example, in July 2024, when the Hungarian Prime Minister met Trump in Florida. At the time, Orbán emphasised on his social media pages: Good news of the day: he will solve it. This narrative fits well with Orbán’s diplomatic strategy of promoting peace.
The statement of the Hungarian government
According to MTI, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó stated that Hungary and the US are in constant contact, with high-level talks planned this week. The main topic is achieving peace in Ukraine, which Hungary believes requires a US-Russia agreement.
Szijjártó criticised European leaders for allegedly obstructing Donald Trump’s peace efforts and emphasised Hungary’s pro-peace stance. He suggested that the upcoming European summit skip a closing declaration due to irreconcilable differences between pro-war and pro-peace sides. Hungary also refused to participate in a pro-war summit in London. Regarding sanctions on Russia, Szijjártó is awaiting an EU response on energy security guarantees before deciding on Hungary’s position.
The political alliance between Viktor Orbán and Donald Trump clearly goes beyond traditional diplomatic relations. Both leaders share populist, nationalist, and conservative values, so it is only natural that they support each other. For Orbán, Trump’s support is particularly important, as the return of the Republican president to the US presidency could significantly influence Hungary’s geopolitical standing.
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