by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief reporting from Budapest, Hungary
BUDAPEST (Worthy News)— U.S. Vice President JD Vance, on a visit to Hungary, condemned what he called “disgraceful” interference by the European Union in an election that could see Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán lose power for the first time in 16 years.
Vance’s comments were quickly challenged by Orbán’s main opposition challenger Péter Magyar, who questioned why the United States was intervening in an election campaign just days before the April 12 vote.
Observers have viewed Vance’s visit to Budapest as a “Save Orbán” mission, with independent opinion polls showing his Fidesz party trailing Magyar’s center-right Tisza Party.
Orbán is a close ally of Donald J. Trump, who used the occasion of a Hungarian-American Friendship Day rally at Budapest’s MTK Stadium to once again endorse the veteran leader.
TRUMP BACKS ORBÁN PUBLICLY
Vance reached Trump on a second attempt while holding his cellphone near a microphone in front of about 5,000 carefully selected spectators.
Trump told the crowd he was “a big fan of Viktor,” praising Orbán as “a fantastic man” who had “kept your country strong” and prevented migration seen elsewhere in Europe. “The United States is with him all the way,” Trump added.
Speaking at the rally, Vance praised Hungary’s people and heritage, describing them as “incredible people with great enthusiasm and brilliance,” while portraying the country as a defender of national sovereignty and Western values.
At a joint news conference earlier, Vance accused EU institutions of meddling in Hungary’s democratic process.
VANCE ACCUSES EU OF INTERFERENCE
“What has happened in the midst of this election campaign is one of the worst examples of foreign election interference that I’ve ever seen,” he said, adding that “bureaucrats in Brussels” had tried to weaken Hungary’s economy and energy independence.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, denied the accusations, saying elections are “the sole choice of citizens.”
Vance also addressed the war in Ukraine, suggesting that peace would require acknowledging the interests of both Kyiv and Moscow, while criticizing Europe’s past energy strategy.
At the same news conference, Orbán and Vance said they agreed that the war in Ukraine should end soon, while also signaling a potential energy agreement between Hungary and the United States.
Officials familiar with the matter said Hungary could import roughly 500,000 tons of U.S. oil in a deal worth about $500 million involving energy firm MOL Group, though details were not immediately confirmed publicly.
ENERGY DEAL AND PIPELINE TENSIONS
The reported deal comes shortly after Hungary accused Ukraine of attempting to sabotage a pipeline transporting Russian oil to Hungary through Serbia.
Orbán’s ally, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, said authorities had discovered a powerful explosive device near the pipeline, describing it as capable of causing “devastating damage,” though further details were not released.
Magyar dismissed the claims as a likely “false flag” aimed at influencing the election and said Tuesday he was also concerned about foreign involvement, including from the United States, in Hungary’s democratic process.
“This is our country,” Magyar wrote, stressing that Hungary’s future “is not written in Washington, Moscow, or Brussels.”
MAGYAR WARNS OF FOREIGN INFLUENCE
His remarks reflect growing confidence within the opposition, as polls suggest Orbán faces his toughest electoral challenge since returning to power in 2010.
A possible Magyar victory has raised hopes in Brussels that relations with Hungary could be restored.
Orbán has long been at odds with the European Union over rule-of-law concerns, migration policy, and his stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine.
He has refused to send weapons to Kyiv, opposed deeper EU integration, and maintained close ties with Moscow, especially on energy—drawing criticism from Brussels.
RULE OF LAW AND RUSSIA CONCERNS
Additionally, concerns have surfaced over leaked communications suggesting close coordination between Hungarian officials and Russian counterparts on sensitive issues, including efforts to circumvent European Union sanctions.
EU officials have also raised concerns about democratic backsliding and media freedom in Hungary, accusations Orbán denies.
Yet Vance was not the only figure supporting controversial politicians in the region.
In nearby Bosnia-Herzegovina, Donald Trump Jr. attended an event with former pro-Russia leader Milorad Dodik, criticizing the European Union as “a mess” while signaling continued U.S. engagement in the Balkans.
REGIONAL AND GLOBAL DIMENSIONS
Analysts say the parallel appearances highlight a broader effort by Trump-aligned figures to influence political dynamics in Central and Eastern Europe at a time of heightened geopolitical tension.
Vance was scheduled to leave Hungary on Wednesday, accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance, leaving behind a nation anxiously awaiting the outcome of Sunday’s crunch election.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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