Former Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán visited the White House and the U.S. State Department during a trip to Washington last week, a source familiar with the visit has said.
The previously unreported meetings are believed to mark Orbán’s first visit to the U.S. capital since leaving office in April.
It is unclear whom Orbán met or what was discussed. However, the visit comes as his successor moves to dismantle parts of the political legacy Orbán built during his 16 years in power.
It also indicates that the Trump administration remains interested in maintaining ties with the former Hungarian leader, who was one of its closest political allies in Europe.
Orbán was previously reported to have travelled privately to the United States to attend the World Cup, but there had been no public confirmation that he also visited Washington. He later said that he had held informal, private discussions during the trip, which he paid for himself.
The meetings suggest that Orbán continues to carry influence in transatlantic conservative circles despite leaving office, while Washington remains keen to preserve links with European politicians who share its emphasis on national sovereignty.
