Marco Rubio in Budapest: U.S. Administration Declares Full Support for Viktor Orban

The head of U.S. diplomacy Marco Rubio concluded his European tour with a visit to Budapest, where he met with Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The American politician left no doubt about the White House's preferences, stating outright that Donald Trump is strongly committed to the victory of the current government in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12. During a joint press conference, Rubio emphasized that Orban's success is identical to the success of the United States, which is interpreted as an unprecedented engagement of a foreign administration in an ally's electoral process. Hungarian-American relations have warmed dramatically since Donald Trump's return to the White House, contrasting with the period of Democratic rule when Budapest was criticized for undermining rule-of-law standards. The Hungarian Prime Minister described the current relations as a 'golden age', noting that the two nations have never been so close in history. Orban used the meeting to criticize Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of brutal interference in Hungary's internal politics. The Hungarian leader also stated that if Trump had been in power in 2022, the conflict in Ukraine would never have broken out. An additional element of the talks was an energy pact to reduce Hungary's dependence on supplies from Russia. April 12 — date of key parliamentary elections in HungaryRubio's visit also has an economic dimension. Washington declared its willingness to provide financial support if Budapest encountered difficulties on international markets before the elections. Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition party TISZA, Peter Magyar, promises to hold the ruling camp accountable for corruption and restore civil liberties. Polls indicate the electoral battle will be extremely tight, and the opposition has a real chance of taking power for the first time since 2010.TISZA: 42%, Fidesz (Orban): 40%, Undecided: 18%Signals of support from the U.S. could prove decisive in mobilizing the electorate, while the opposition builds its platform on reorienting Hungary towards Western Europe and fighting oligarchy. By appearing alongside Orban, Rubio legitimizes his political course, which critics view as support for isolationism within the European Union.