US President Donald Trump has endorsed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of national elections. Trump wrote in all caps on his Truth Social platform, “Get out and vote for Viktor Orban,” as campaigning in Hungary entered its final stretch. This Sunday, voters will decide Orban’s fate at the ballot box. Orban has blocked EU aid to Ukraine, openly criticized the European Union (EU), and cultivated close ties with Trump, presenting himself as MAGA’s man in Europe.
Orban said, “Make Europe great again!” echoing Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan. He has used the phrase “MAGA there, MEGA here” to portray himself as a European leader capable of building a transnational far-right alliance. The election outcome will test whether the camaraderie between Orban and Trump resonates with voters. It will reveal not only assessments of Orban’s governance but also whether Trump purportedly has the sway to advance an international far-right project.
The Trump administration’s national security strategy, released in 2025, allegedly warned against “civilizational erasure” in Europe and claimed that EU activities undermine political liberty and sovereignty. Experts say Trump and MAGA’s support for Orban must be seen in this context. Historian Timothy Snyder wrote that Orban is “central to Trumpism, more important than almost any American” in the MAGA movement.
But can Trump’s endorsement and a last-minute visit from Vice President JD Vance boost Orban’s numbers and strengthen the European far-right? Observers note that Orban’s Fidesz party is trailing, while the opposition group led by Peter Magyar maintains a double-digit lead in most polls. Political analyst Zsuzsanna Vegh stated, “The polls are not looking good for PM Orban,” indicating the opposition could win absent massive manipulation.
Vance’s visit is claimed to be intended to signal to other European hard-right groups that Trump and MAGA back the Hungarian far-right, with an ideological interest in expanding an illiberal Europe. However, some experts doubt whether such blatant support can improve Orban’s prospects. Vegh added that Trump’s support is already public knowledge and unlikely to sway undecided voters concerned about issues like the cost of living.
Trump’s popularity among the European far-right is reportedly waning, as many leaders criticize the US president. Policies such as tariffs, the war on Iran, and threats to annex Greenland may have alienated parts of the European far-right. A poll by the European Council on Foreign Relations suggests that since Trump took power, US influence in Europe has declined, with only 16% of EU citizens viewing the US as an ally.
Source: www.dw.com