US President Donald Trump expressed his ‘complete and total endorsement’ of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election in April during the inauguration meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington, DC, on 19 February.
Speaking in front of leaders gathered from across the globe, Trump praised Orbán for his hard stance against illegal migration, comparing it to what he described as the failed open-border policies of Western European countries. ‘He does an unbelievable job. He’s done an incredible job on illegal migration, unlike some countries that have hurt themselves,’ the president pointed out.
Trump repeated that Orbán has his complete endorsement, which he is ‘putting out’ everywhere, adding that ‘not everybody in Europe loves’ that endorsement. He continued by listing leaders whom he recently supported ahead of their respective elections and who went on to win, most notably Argentinian President Javier Milei and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. ‘You are gonna do great, Viktor,’ Trump added, expressing his gratitude to the prime minister for joining the inauguration meeting.
‘With friends, everything is easier. Peace too,’ Orbán wrote while sharing a video of Trump’s endorsement on his official X account.
Hungary became a founding member of the Board of Peace back in January, alongside more than a dozen world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos. ‘Hungary is among the founding countries, because Hungary needs peace in order to continue to grow and develop,’ Orbán said at the time, adding that ‘war puts at risk everything we have built over the past fifteen years. War brings inflation, sanctions, high energy prices, and the decline of national economies.’
‘Hungary does not want to move backwards. We want to move forward. That is why we support and take part in every international initiative that prevents and contains wars and guarantees the security and peace of mind of nations and families,’ he concluded.
According to several media reports, more than 40 countries were represented at the inauguration meeting; however, not all of them are members of the new international conflict-resolution platform.
In his address, Trump declared that the Board of Peace ‘will prove to be the most consequential international body in history,’ stressing that reconstruction and humanitarian support for Gaza were already underway through multibillion-dollar pledges from participating states. He expressed confidence in the initiative’s broader geopolitical mission, saying the United Nations has ‘tremendous potential’ that, with renewed American backing, could be made ‘stronger and more viable.’
Trump’s endorsement of Orbán came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Budapest earlier this week, stating during a joint press conference with the Hungarian prime minister that his leadership is ‘essential’ for American interests in the region, adding that Trump is ‘deeply committed’ to his success.
Related articles:
