A "golden age" in relations between Hungary and the United States has started since U.S. President Donald Trump's election, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Tuesday after meeting U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

Vance is Budapest days before a parliamentary election, with polls showing Orban might lose power after 16 years in government.

Vance is in Hungary on Tuesday on a mission to boost the electoral campaign of the country's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who faces the toughest re-election bid of his political career.

During the two-day visit, coming just days before the April 12 parliamentary elections, Vance will meet with Orban and attend a campaign rally with him, according to Hungarian government sources.

The rare in-person gesture of support for Orban by a senior U.S. official is the latest example of President Donald Trump's efforts to prop up like-minded right-wing leaders, including in Argentina and Japan.

Opinion polls show Orban, who Trump has already publicly endorsed and praised as "a truly strong and powerful leader," and his Fidesz party face the most challenging election since returning to power in 2010. In most independent surveys, they trail the center-right Tisza party, led by Peter Magyar.

Orban’s self-described “illiberal democracy” mirrors key themes of Trump-era America: harsh anti-immigration policies, disdain for liberal norms, hostility toward global institutions, and attacks on the media, universities and nonprofit groups. He was the first European leader to endorse Trump during his 2016 presidential bid.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (APRIL 7, 2026) (U.S. NETWORK POOL - No use USA)

1. U.S. VICE PRESIDENT J.D. VANCE AND HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN SHAKING HANDS

2. VANCE AND ORBAN WALKING

3. VANCE AND ORBAN TALKING IN HALLWAY

4. ORBAN IN BILATERAL MEETING WITH VANCE AND U.S. DELEGATION SAYING (English): "Thank you very much for being so kind to visit us, especially in that high moment of world politics, when it's difficult to understand what's going on in many points of the world. It's a good occasion to exchange our views and understanding of what's going on in the global political scene and how is the fight which is going on for the soul of the West we have in Europe and what about in America. And of course, because of the special relationship between the Americans and the Hungarians, now we have the American-Hungarian Friendship Day. And thank you very much that you are so kind to upgrade that day by your presence. So thank you very much. On behalf of the Hungarian people, I just welcome you all to do.

5. VANCE AND U.S. DELEGATION IN BILATER MEETING, VANCE SAYING (English): Like you said, the relationship and friendship between Hungary and the United States is very important to us. In part because we love the Hungarian people and this amazing nation and culture, but in part because the President loves you, and so do I, because you're such an important part of what has made Europe strong and prosperous. You're one of the true statesmen, I would say one of the only true statesmen in Europe, one of the few people who could talk to people from all over the world, can play the role of peacemaker, can play the role of economic statesman. We have a lot of great economic relationships, trade relationships that we're going to talk about today. But most of all, I just appreciate Viktor's friendship because it is very rare you have somebody with his combination of diplomatic skill and wisdom. It's very, very important to us that we continue to keep this relationship ongoing. And I know you have an election in five or six days, and we wanted to come and say good luck." / VANCE INVITING PRESS TO LEAVE