Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday, ahead of the formal talks signaling what both leaders described as the beginning of a “new chapter” in relations between their two countries.
“Economic cooperation, military cooperation, and political cooperation”—that was what Orbán told the press corps his delegation intended to discuss with Trump at a joint press availability before a White House luncheon. The Hungarian leader added that one of his key goals was to explore “how to help you [Trump] in your peace efforts” regarding neighboring Ukraine.
“The reason why we are here is to open a new chapter in the bilateral relations between the United States and Hungary,” Orbán said, adding that under the previous U.S. administration, “everything was ruined, canceled.”
The Hungarian leader praised Trump’s first ten months back in office, saying the relationship between the two countries had “improved” and predicting a “golden age” ahead.
Trump said the two leaders would cover a broad agenda. “We’re gonna be talking trade, we’re gonna be talking a little bit of Russia-Ukraine; we’ll be talking about energy and energy prices,” he told reporters.
Pressed on whether Hungary might be exempted from U.S. oil sanctions on Russia, Trump said, “We’re looking at it.” He also took aim at other European nations that continue to import Russian energy, despite their criticism of Moscow. “Many European countries are buying oil and gas from Russia and they have been for years, so what’s that all about, huh?” Trump said.
The Hungarian leader took the opportunity to briefly educate the gathered media on the country’s energy situation—from its landlocked geography, where oil and gas are supplied by pipelines, to the fact that 90% of Hungarian households rely on gas for their heating.
On the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Trump sounded an optimistic note. “Viktor feels we’re going to get that war ended in the not too distant future,” he said.
Orbán agreed, though he questioned Europe’s unity on the issue. “I’m strongly convinced” that the war can be ended, he said—however, “the only pro-peace governments are the United States and the government in Hungary.”
Most European governments, he argued, “want to continue the war because they believe Ukraine can win on the frontline, which is a misunderstanding of the situation.”
Asked by Trump whether he did not believe Ukraine could win, the Hungarian leader replied, “Miracles can happen.”
Orbán also criticized the former Biden administration, saying that without its pressure, “the Europeans would not have taken that hardline that they have today.” Before that, he reminded the media, “Big countries in Europe rejected being more involved than sending humanitarian aid.” The previous U.S. administration’s push for greater European involvement, he said, contributed to a war that he described as an “enormous mistake, and we have to stop it.”
When asked about his message to other European leaders, Trump replied, “They should respect Hungary and its leader very strongly because he’s been right on immigration—look what’s happened to Europe on immigration … His crime rates are very low, they are the same as they ever were.”
While telling the media that he likes all the European leaders, Trump said about the Hungarian leader, “He’s respected by everybody, he’s liked by some. And I can tell you, I like AND respect him.”
