STORY: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday (Feb. 16) as he began the Budapest leg of his central Europe tour.

Rubio has vowed to deepen cooperation with central Europe as he visits Slovakia and Hungary, whose conservative leaders have warm ties with President Donald Trump.

In remarks before departing Washington on Thursday, Rubio said Trump is very supportive of Orban, who is trailing in most polls ahead of an election in April when he could be voted out of power.

Orban, one of Trump's closest allies in Europe, is considered by many on the American hard-right as a model for the U.S. president's tough policies on immigration and support for Christian conservatism.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO MEETING HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN

SHOWS: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (FEBRUARY 16, 2026) (U.S. NETWORK POOL - No use USA)

1. U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO AND HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN SHAKING HANDS