Rubio Backs Orbán Fifth Term in Hungary Visit/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio endorsed Viktor Orbán’s reelection bid during a visit to Budapest. Rubio highlighted Orbán’s close relationship with President Donald Trump and signed a nuclear cooperation agreement. The visit comes ahead of Hungary’s April elections, where Orbán faces a significant political challenge.
Rubio Endorses Orbán Hungary Elections Quick Looks
- Rubio publicly backs Orbán’s fifth-term bid
- Strong personal ties cited between Orbán and Trump
- U.S.-Hungary civilian nuclear cooperation agreement signed
- Hungary considers small modular nuclear reactors
- Orbán invites Trump to Budapest before April 12 vote
- Elections seen as toughest test of Orbán’s 16-year rule
Deep Look: Rubio Backs Orbán’s Reelection Bid During Budapest Visit Ahead of April Vote
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a strong endorsement of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Monday, publicly supporting his campaign for a fifth consecutive term during a high-profile visit to Budapest.
The visit comes just weeks before Hungary’s April 12 parliamentary elections, widely viewed as Orbán’s most serious political test since he returned to power in 2010.
Speaking at a joint news conference in the Hungarian capital, Rubio emphasized the deep personal and political bond between Orbán and U.S. President Donald Trump.
“I’m going to be very blunt with you,” Rubio said. “The prime minister and the president have a very, very close personal relationship and working relationship, and I think it has been beneficial to our two countries.”
Rubio added that Trump is “deeply committed” to Orbán’s success, describing the bilateral relationship as entering a “golden age.”
Nuclear Cooperation Agreement Signed
During his visit, Rubio met with Orbán and members of his government to strengthen economic and energy ties between the United States and Hungary.
The two sides signed an agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation, paving the way for potential Hungarian purchases of U.S.-developed small modular reactors (SMRs). The deal also includes provisions for American-supplied nuclear fuel and spent fuel storage technology.
The agreement is part of Rubio’s broader push to solidify energy partnerships in Central Europe. Prior to arriving in Hungary, Rubio visited Slovakia and attended the Munich Security Conference in Germany.
Orbán’s Strategic Balancing Act
Orbán has long positioned himself as one of Trump’s strongest allies within the European Union. His government has cultivated ties with the American conservative movement, including supporters of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) platform.
At the same time, Orbán has maintained relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, even as much of Europe distances itself from Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
Hungary has continued purchasing Russian energy supplies despite European Union efforts to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels. Orbán previously secured an exemption from certain U.S. sanctions tied to Russian energy following discussions in Washington.
On Monday, Rubio declined to specify how long that exemption would remain in place, as the EU aims to phase out Russian fossil fuels entirely by the end of 2027.
Election Stakes and International Optics
With polls suggesting a tighter race than in previous elections, Orbán’s government has sought high-profile international support ahead of the April vote.
During his remarks, Orbán extended an open invitation for Trump to visit Budapest before the election and expressed willingness to host a potential trilateral peace summit involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine.
Orbán also accused Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of attempting to influence Hungary’s elections by criticizing his opposition to sending weapons or financial aid to Kyiv.
Hungary has repeatedly threatened to block Ukraine’s eventual European Union membership and has resisted EU-wide measures aimed at increasing military support for Kyiv.
Hungary’s Role in Conservative Politics
Within conservative circles in the United States, Hungary is often portrayed as a model of nationalist governance. Orbán has echoed Trump’s political messaging, declaring that his movement seeks to “Make Europe Great Again.”
Trump has previously praised Orbán’s hardline immigration policies, including the construction of a border fence in 2015 during Europe’s refugee crisis.
Hungary has also drawn international attention for its policies regarding LGBTQ+ rights. The government has effectively barred same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples and prohibited transgender individuals from altering their gender markers on official documents.
Last year, authorities banned the Budapest Pride celebration and authorized the use of facial recognition technology to identify participants who defied the prohibition.
Budapest has hosted several editions of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), reinforcing its profile among U.S. conservatives. Another gathering has been scheduled for March, just ahead of Hungary’s elections.
A Critical Moment for U.S.-Hungary Relations
Rubio’s endorsement underscores a broader alignment between Washington and Budapest under Trump’s administration. For Orbán, the visible support from a senior U.S. official could provide momentum in a race widely considered his toughest in 16 years.
Whether that backing translates into electoral success will become clear when Hungarian voters head to the polls in April.
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