President Donald Trump is committed to the success of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban because his leadership is crucial for U.S. national interests, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday (February 16), offering a strong U.S. endorsement for the long-time nationalist leader who is facing a tight election in April.

"President Trump is deeply committed to your success, because your success is our success," Rubio said, standing next to Orban.

Rubio, who also serves as Trump's national security adviser, was on the second leg of a two-day tour of Central Europe, visiting Slovakia and Hungary, whose conservative leaders have warm ties with Trump and are critical of the European Union.

At an April 12 parliamentary election set to be keenly contested, Orban faces his biggest challenge since his Fidesz party came to power in a landslide victory in 2010.

The vote will have major implications for Europe and its strengthening conservative and far-right political movements.

Orban , long one of Trump's closest allies in Europe, has often clashed with the EU on a range of issues while maintaining cordial ties with Russia and criticizing Ukraine.

Orban is considered by many on the American hard-right as a model for Trump's tough immigration policies and support for Christian conservatism.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (FEBRUARY 16, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO AND HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN AT NEWS CONFERENCE

2. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, SAYING:

"President Trump is deeply committed to your success because your success is our success. Because this relationship we have here in Central Europe, through you, is so essential and vital for our national interests in the years to come that, you know, if you face financial struggles, if you face things that are impediments to growth, if you face things that threaten the stability of your country, I know that President Trump will be very interested, because of your relationship with him and because of the importance of this country to us, so just finding ways to provide assistance if that moment ever were to arise. And obviously, with regards to finances and the like."

4. JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, SAYING:

"The president has an extraordinarily close relationship to the Prime Minister. He does. And it has had tangible benefits in our relationship. I'm not going to speculate about the future. You know, what happens in this country is up to the voters of this country to determine and decide. And we love the people of Hungary. But there's no reason to sugarcoat it. I'm going to be very blunt with you. The Prime Minister and the President have a very, very close personal relationship and working relationship. And I think it has been incredibly beneficial to the relationship between our two countries."

6. JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, SAYING:

"Those sanctions waivers happened as much as anything else because of the relationship between the Prime Minister and the President. And so all I can tell you is that relationship and the importance of that relationship and the importance of that relationship to our bilateral relationship underpins the decision the President made. And I think we'll continue to underpin it, as long as that relationship is a factor in our bilateral relations."

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER, VIKTOR ORBAN, SAYING:

"Sometimes I lose, sometimes I win. So don't be afraid of what will be if we are not winning, because it's regularly happened here, at least four times already. So there is no need to be afraid of what will happen in Hungary. Hungarian democracy is very strong. And the government of this country very strongly believes in democracy and competitiveness and competition in politics as well, as we have done the last 35 years. So our record is very strong on the governmental side and the opposition side as well. So government will be created after the election in Hungary based on the intention of the Hungarian people, and Hungary as a country will remain strong anyway."

9. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, ON UKRAINE CONFLICT, SAYING:

"We're the only nation on Earth that apparently can get both sides to the table to talk. I'm not here to insult anybody, but the United Nations hasn't been able to do it. There's no other country in Europe that's been able to do it. The United States has been successful at being able to get both sides to talk. I mean, for the first time in a number of years, you actually have at a technical level, military officials from both sides sat down last week in the Middle East and we'll restart those talks again in Geneva later this week. I think that's a very positive thing. That said, you know, all we are trying to do is play a role if it's possible in reaching a deal. We're not seeking to impose a deal on anybody. We're not trying to force anyone to take a deal they don't want to take. We just want to help them."

11. PRESS

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, ON CHINA RELATIONS, SAYING:

"We have trade and relations with China. The President of the United States is going to travel in April to China. Why? Because China's a big country. It's got a billion-something people, second largest economy in the world. They have nuclear weapons. It would be crazy. It's insane for the United States and China not to have relations and interact with one another. Now, two big countries like this, do we have differences? We absolutely do. And we'll have to manage those differences. And some of those differences are things we've spoken very frankly and clearly and repeatedly about the fact that it is not good for the world, it's not good for anybody to rely on one country or one economy for 90% of anything, especially things like critical supply chains."

13. PRESS

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER, VIKTOR ORBAN, SAYING:

"I assured Secretary of State Rubio that Hungary will continue to support him, no matter what European conflicts it entails. Hungary will continue to support the United States' peace efforts in Ukraine."

15. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

16. (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER, VIKTOR ORBAN, SAYING:

"He (Trump) doesn't mince words, he doesn't mince words, he says what he thinks is in the interests of the United States of America, there are no taboos, we can talk about everything, including the China issue you raised or any other issue."

17. RUBIO AND ORBAN SHAKING HANDS AND WALKING AWAY

18. RUBIO SIGNING AGREEMENT ON CIVIL NUCLEAR COOPERATION WITH HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PETER SZIJJARTO