Orban meets Trump - the ramifications for Europe
Steve Bannon once described Victor Orban as 'Trump before Trump' - as the two meet, what does this mean for Europe?


Donald Trump hosted Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the Oval Office on Monday, in a meeting critics say defied widespread concerns over bolstering a leader with Orban’s democratic and human rights credentials.
“Viktor Orban has done a tremendous job in so many different ways,” the US president said at a photo-op marking the beginning of talks. “Highly respected. Respected all over Europe. Probably like me, a little bit controversial, but that’s ok. That’s ok. You’ve done a good job, and you’ve kept your country safe.”
Orban responded by explaining how he thought he and Trump's political philosophies align: "We are proud to stand together with the United States on fighting against illegal migration, on terrorism, and to protect and help the Christian communities all around the world".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In the meeting, as with others, Trump revealed his regard for strongman leaders, the New York Times says. “The president has hosted or praised autocrats from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the Philippines and Kazakhstan, 'fell in love' with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and upended his entire Syria policy after a phone call with Turkey’s iron-fisted leader, triggering the resignation in protest of his own defense secretary.”
Critics say Trump’s meeting with Orban comes as a boost for the latter’s profile - and will energise those sympathetic to him - in the days leading up to the European elections 23-26 May.
As the Financial Times’ Edward Luce writes, “Mr Trump was sending a clear message that he is rooting for parties that want to undermine Europe [who] look poised to make significant gains next week.”
Speaking to the Financial Times, former Trump strategist Steve Bannon said: “What Trump did by meeting Orban was tremendously helpful. We are facing a potential European earthquake next week if the leading sovereigntist parties come out on top.”
Controversial for his disdain for democratic norms and ethno-nationalist policies, presidents Bush and Obama both refused to meet Orban. However, resistance in the United States to Orban’s visit crossed party lines. In a rare show of dissent from members of Trump’s own party, Republicans Marco Rubio and Jim Risch both signed a letter stating: “In recent years, democracy in Hungary has significantly eroded... Under Orban, the election process has become less competitive and the judiciary is increasingly controlled by the state”.
This letter to Trump was swiftly followed by one from nine Democratic members of the US House of Representative, who wrote: “Prime Minister Orban represents so many things that are antithetical to core American values. He has overseen a rollback of democracy in his country, used anti-Semitic and xenophobic tropes in his political messaging, and cozied up to Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin.”
Indeed, Orban is credited with having compromised the judiciary, acted against minority interests, and fomented anti-Semitism and xenophobia within Hungary. However, as he said confidently sitting next to Trump: “From the people, by the people, for the people, this is the basis for the Hungarian government.”
Franklin Foer, staff writer for the Atlantic, said in an interview with NPR: "The week that I was in Hungary, CNN published a poll showing that Hungarians had become the most anti-Semitic country in the whole of Europe. One of the pro-government publications published a magazine that had a cover featuring the head of the Jewish federation. And his face was put against a black backdrop, and money was raining down."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
William Gritten is a London-born, New York-based strategist and writer focusing on politics and international affairs.
-
Children's health has declined in the US
The Explainer It's likely a sign of larger systemic issues
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year
-
US inflation jumps as Trump tariffs 'bite'
Speed Read Consumer prices are climbing and the inflation rate rose to its highest level in four months
-
Melania Trump's intervention on Ukraine
In The Spotlight The first lady has been linked to the president's U-turn on sending arms to Kyiv
-
Big, beautiful bill: Supercharging ICE
Feature With billions in new funding, ICE is set to expand its force of agents and build detention camps capable of holding more than 100,000 people
-
Deportations: Citizens could be next
Feature the Trump is expanding denaturalization efforts, targeting naturalized citizens and birthright citizenship
-
Ukraine: Trump's mixed messages
Feature Trump reverses a Pentagon freeze on Patriot missiles to Ukraine as Russia ramps up air attacks
-
Supreme Court: Ceding more power to Trump?
Feature SCOTUS has given Trump a victory by ending nationwide injunctions, limiting judges' power to block presidential orders
-
The Pam Bondi and Dan Bongino schism threatens Trump's DOJ
In the Spotlight Two MAGA partisans find themselves on either end of a growing scandal over Jeffrey Epstein and his ties to White House officials
-
Secret Service 'failures' on Trump shooting
Speed Read Two new reports detail security breakdowns that led to attempts on the president's life