Subscribe to our social channels to get the latest news about Hungary!
IT
J. D. Vance in Budapest on foreign intervention, the EU, and Ukraine
Change language:
Foreign interference targeting Hungary amounts to an attack on the country’s sovereignty, US Vice President J. D. Vance said on Wednesday at an event hosted by the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) in Budapest.
Vance argued that some actors do not treat EU financial pressure and what he described as pressure linked to energy supplies from Ukraine as “foreign interference”, even though, in his view, they should.
‘Unprecedented’ timing ahead of an election
Speaking about his visit to Budapest, Vance called it “unprecedented” for a sitting US vice president to travel to another country one week before an election.
“We are here because we thought Viktor had faced so many unfair attacks in this election that we had to show that he has many friends around the world who believe he is doing good work and is an important partner for peace,” he said.
EU funds and energy supplies framed as pressure
Vance criticised what he characterised as double standards in how pressure is defined.
“When the European Union withholds billions from Hungary because they protect their borders — that is supposedly not foreign interference,” he said.
He also referred to Ukraine “shutting down pipelines” and claimed this causes hardship for Hungarian people “to influence the election”, adding that this, too, is labelled by some as not being foreign interference.
Vance said that regardless of anyone’s opinion of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, such actions should be understood as a fundamental attack on sovereignty.
If you missed it today - Revealed: Hungary–Russia 12-point plan made public as Orbán and Putin seek closer ties
Claim about Zelensky and conditional energy supplies
Vance said he had heard the previous day that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had spoken about energy supplies in the context of elections, after Orbán raised the issue with him.
According to J. D. Vance, Zelensky’s message was: “If you don’t vote this way, you won’t get any more energy.”
Vance argued that if a foreign leader makes energy supplies conditional in this way, it can be interpreted as pressure intended to influence voters.
He called it unacceptable when other governments “literally tell the Hungarian people how to vote, otherwise they will face retaliation”.
He stressed that it is up to Hungarians to decide who leads the country, adding that the United States has not applied this type of pressure on Hungary because it respects Hungarian sovereignty and the decisions of voters.
Comments on Ukraine war and the Middle East
On the war in Ukraine, Vance said the parties had already put on paper what they want for a settlement, and that their positions are “getting closer” to each other. He added that “the war is no longer really understandable”, and asked whether it is worth losing “hundreds of thousands of young lives” over “a few square kilometres”.
On the Middle East, he said a fragile ceasefire had been reached after Iran agreed to certain conditions — including opening straits — while the United States and its allies committed to halting attacks. In his view, this shows there is room for diplomatic progress if parties are willing to take concrete steps to reduce tensions.
‘We love Europe’, but criticism of its leadership
J. D. Vance said the United States “loves Europe”, but criticised European political leadership, arguing that under its direction the continent has become “less safe, less free and less successful”.
On energy, he said it is not accidental that energy prices are lower in the United States, describing this as the result of political choices, while Europe has chosen a different path.
Education, universities and ‘elite networks’
Turning to education, Vance said the system has two tasks: preparing people to be effective workers and teaching them critical thinking so they can participate in modern democracy.
He argued universities cannot stand above society and should not expect unlimited public funding while promoting ideologies taxpayers do not agree with. “It is taxpayers who decide what they are willing to finance,” he said, adding that no one is automatically entitled to public money.
In closing, Vance spoke about his own university experience, recalling how studying at Yale Law School helped him understand how elite social networks operate. He described these networks as closed and self-reinforcing, and argued that because political and economic leaders often come from such institutions, many decision-makers become detached from the everyday reality of ordinary people.
He said education should become more open and place greater emphasis on merit-based selection, so that what matters is not who someone knows, but what they can do. If that does not happen, he warned, “the system is fundamentally destined to fail,” and he added that young people also have a responsibility to engage in public life and help build a more open and fair system.
As we wrote today, the latest pre-election poll shows Orbán could face his biggest defeat in 16 years.
Apparently on Hungarian television the recording of Vance’s speech yesterday edited the part where he said the US would work with whichever party formed a government. Not a peep from Vance about Russian intervention in the Hungarian election. That in itself is intervention by Vance himself when he limits himself to critcising the EU.
Did he go to the confessional – in the confession box, the other side of the screen, being the Hungarian Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church – Peter Erdo ???
What a long session it would have been ///
Interesting, behind the screen CHAT between Vance & Erdo, knowing as we DO the respect & trust of the Hungarian Cardinal – Peter Erdo his friendship with – Victor Mihaly. Orban.
Blatant hypocrite to his claim of being a Baptized Catholic that JD Vance all that can grows in being of FACT in relation to his Vice Presidency, a “gofer” of D. J. Trump he is NOT of Christian practice.
April 12th – in SOLIDARITY we Hungarians execute our POWER through our Right to Vote and OUT – send off – Victor Mihaly. Orban and his Fidesz Government to give a “flickering” of light for the FUTURE of our country Hungary being DELIVERED to its likened MASSACRE place of present existence by the Orban led Fidesz Political Party.
The statements of US Vice President J.D. Vance about Ukraine’s interference in the elections in Hungary and the United States are due to pre-election rhetoric. This was stated by the speaker of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Georgiy Tykhiy at a briefing, reports unian.net.
“I urge everyone to fully listen to this press conference where this was heard. And it will become obvious to you that the journalists present there, I will not give an assessment of their coloring, but they tried many times in a row to provoke the Vice President of the United States to various harsh statements,” he said.
The speaker of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry noted that the Vice President of the United States responded neutrally to almost all such attempts.
“As for the phrase that was heard, we understand that it happened within the framework of the election campaign. We don’t attach any overly emotional harshness to what was uttered. So we are not exaggerating the significance of this statement,” Tychy added.
We recall that earlier, US Vice President J.D. Vance, answering journalists’ questions, said that he blamed European bureaucrats for one of the worst external interventions in the Hungarian elections. He also said that the US authorities were aware that “there are elements in the Ukrainian intelligence services” that allegedly try to influence the US and Hungarian elections.
According to a media report, Trump’s ballroom at the White House will be made of European steel. Europe’s largest manufacturer is apparently donating millions of dollars’ worth of material to the US president.
Of course, it’s all voluntary, and there’s no blackmail of the German steel industry behind it!
Mar-a-Lago echoes?
1. The Corporate Justification
At the time, ArcelorMittal representatives suggested that providing the steel was a marketing and showcase opportunity. By having their high-end structural steel used in a high-profile, luxury landmark like Mar-a-Lago, the company could demonstrate the quality and aesthetic potential of their product. This is a common practice in the construction and luxury industries, often referred to as a “product placement” or a “showcase project.”
2. The Relationship and Influence
Critics and investigative reports have pointed to the potential for “quid pro quo” or strategic relationship building.
Trade Policy: The steel industry is heavily dependent on government trade protections, tariffs, and anti-dumping laws. Cultivating relationships with high-profile business figures who have political influence (as Trump did long before his presidency) is often viewed as a strategic move to ensure the industry’s interests are heard in Washington.
The Wilbur Ross Connection: Wilbur Ross, who later became Trump’s Secretary of Commerce, was a major figure in the steel industry. He had sold his company, International Steel Group, to Mittal Steel (which became ArcelorMittal) and served on ArcelorMittal’s board. This personal and professional crossover created a direct bridge between the company and Trump’s inner circle.
3. Legal and Ethical Scrutiny
The offer eventually drew the attention of the Palm Beach State Attorney’s Office. The primary concern was whether the “free” steel was an attempt to circumvent local building regulations or tax obligations.
Permitting: There were questions regarding whether the donation was tied to helping Trump secure permits for the 20,000-square-foot ballroom, which faced opposition from some local residents and officials.
Valuation: If a gift of that magnitude (estimated at approximately $100,000 worth of steel) is given to a commercial entity, it carries specific tax implications.
In summary, while the company framed it as a promotional architectural partnership, political and legal observers viewed it as a strategic play for influence within a sector—steel—that is uniquely vulnerable to and dependent on federal trade policy.