US Vice-President’s Visit Amid Hungary’s Contentious Election
Before the plane carrying US Vice-President JD Vance and Usha Vance touched down in Budapest, the Hungarian government proclaimed their two-day visit as heralding a new golden era in Washington-Budapest relations.
What followed was a rapid sequence of political events in which the US vice-president directly engaged in Hungary’s election campaign just days before voters headed to the polls.
Vance traveled extensively across Budapest, appearing at the city’s Carmelite monastery and later at a pre-election rally. During these appearances, he both praised and criticized the US and Hungary’s shared internal threat from far-left ideology present in universities, media, and entertainment. This involvement marked a sharp departure from the long-standing unspoken rule that politicians generally avoid active participation in foreign elections.
Controversial Remarks and Transatlantic Tensions
Vance’s most pointed remarks risked further straining the already fragile transatlantic relationship. He accused the European Union of foreign interference, even while emphasizing his visit’s purpose was to "help" Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in the elections.
Later that day, Vance joined Orbán at a pre-election rally, energizing a packed football stadium by putting US President Donald Trump on speakerphone. Trump expressed his affection for Hungary and Orbán, calling him a "fantastic man." The crowd responded enthusiastically as Vance held up the phone.
"I love Hungary and I love that Viktor," Trump said. "He’s kept your country good. And let me tell you, I like him a lot but if I didn’t think he did a good job, I wouldn’t be making a call like this."
Earlier, Trump had warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Tehran did not meet US demands in the ongoing conflict with Iran, yet he appeared to shift seamlessly into campaign mode during the call. Giant flags of the US and Hungary adorned the stadium rafters as Trump praised Orbán’s leadership.
Meanwhile, Trump’s eldest son was in Bosnia’s Serb Republic, publicly supporting its ousted pro-Russian leader Milorad Dodik and criticizing the European Union as "a disaster."
Orbán Faces Unprecedented Electoral Challenge
Vance’s visit thrust the US administration into a fiercely contested campaign where Orbán confronts the real possibility of losing his 16-year hold on power. Hungarians are grappling with economic stagnation, deteriorating public services, and widespread corruption. Orbán faces a formidable opponent in Péter Magyar, a former senior member of Orbán’s Fidesz party.
Although Hungarian officials had hoped for Trump himself to visit and support Orbán’s campaign, the White House confirmed only Vance’s visit.
On Tuesday, as Air Force Two arrived in Budapest, Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó described the visit as historic.
"There is no question that this is a golden age for Hungarian-American relations,"he said.
Shared Political Narratives and Campaign Themes
The day revealed the shared political strategies between Orbán and the MAGA movement, with leaders criticizing Brussels, migration, and Ukraine, while praising what Vance called "the values of western civilisation."
Vance openly declared his intentions at the evening rally, energizing the crowd waving Hungarian flags.
"I am here for a simple reason, because I admire what you are fighting for,"he said.
"You are fighting for your freedom, for your sovereignty, and I am here because President Trump and I wish for your success and we are fighting right here with you."
However, there was no acknowledgment of the issues driving the opposition Tisza party’s rise in the polls: a neglected public health system, wages that remain the third lowest in the EU, and systemic corruption that ranks as the worst in the bloc.
Nor was there any mention of scandals shadowing Orbán during the campaign, including reports that Russian intelligence agencies and disinformation networks linked to Russia were attempting to influence the election in Orbán’s favor, or the incident in which Orbán allegedly told Vladimir Putin, "I am at your service."
Polarizing Campaign and Divergent Narratives
The competing narratives have produced a polarizing election campaign. Orbán has portrayed the war in Ukraine as Hungary’s greatest threat, asserting that his personal relationships with world leaders uniquely position him to maintain peace. In contrast, Magyar has urged voters to focus on domestic issues when casting their ballots.
Despite the global headlines generated by Vance’s visit, analysts expressed skepticism about its impact on the election outcome. Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy, stated on social media:
"The vast majority of Hungary’s 7.6 million voters have made up their minds regarding where their crosses are going on Sunday’s ballots. Few of the 350K or so who haven’t and who might yet vote are unlikely to be persuaded by the razzamatazz provided by Vance’s soiree in town."
Márton Bene, a political analyst at the TK Institute for Political Science in Budapest, noted that Trump’s popularity in Hungarian society is questionable, and even fewer people recognize Vance.
"Consequently, [Trump’s] support in itself constitutes a real advantage only in the eyes of an increasingly narrow segment of voters,"he said.
Potential for Post-Election Controversy
Bene also suggested that Vance’s visit might fuel controversy after the election due to his sharp accusations of electoral interference from Brussels.
"This provided an external reference point, articulated at the highest level, for that narrative, which could later offer important discursive resources for attempts to question the election result,"he explained.
However, the visit may have caused more harm than benefit to Orbán. For months, the prime minister had argued that he and his connections were the only means of keeping Hungary safe amid global volatility. Yet, during the press conference, Vance stated that the US administration would work with any Hungarian government elected.
Bene highlighted that Péter Magyar quickly capitalized on this statement, posting a swift response on social media asserting that a Tisza government would consider the US a key partner.
This development, according to Bene,
"cast doubt"on a central claim of Orbán’s campaign—the very claim the visit sought to emphasize—that effective Hungarian interest representation depends solely on Orbán’s personal relationships.
