PM Viktor Orbán got a signed hat and huge deals from President Donald Trump
A series of new photos posted by the White House on Instagram has drawn attention in Hungary, showing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Construction and Transport Minister János Lázár lining up at U.S. President Donald Trump’s desk, waiting for autographed baseball caps.
PM Viktor Orbán gets a signed cap from Donald Trump
In the images, Trump is seen signing his trademark hats emblazoned with slogans such as “Make America Great Again” and “Trump Was Right About Everything.”
Each cap, sold for around USD 55 (approximately HUF 18,000), was personally signed for members of the Hungarian delegation, 444 writes. While Trump appears cheerful, the prime minister watches the process with a rather neutral expression, and Lázár, holding a bright red “Trump Was Right” cap, looks on attentively.
Sovereign foreign policies?
The photo sparked debate online, with Hungarian commentators noting the irony of ministers from a government that proudly champions “sovereign foreign policy” queueing for memorabilia from a U.S. president.
Other photos from the visit show a light-hearted exchange between Orbán and Trump before a formal lunch, featuring Coca-Cola and salad on the table. Additional images include silhouettes and thumbs-up poses.
The prime minister got what he wanted
Beyond the optics, the discussions between the two leaders reportedly covered energy and technological cooperation. Following the meeting, Orbán announced several major concessions granted by the United States: Hungary would receive full exemptions from American sanctions on Russian oil and gas imports via the TurkStream and Druzhba pipelines for one year.
Hungary will also purchase nuclear fuel from U.S.-based Westinghouse and open the door to the introduction of small American modular reactors. According to Orbán, U.S. sanctions affecting the Paks II nuclear power plant would be completely lifted, though no agreement was reached on reinstating the double taxation treaty between the two countries.
He had a conversation with the vice president, too
Later, Orbán also held talks with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. The Hungarian Prime Minister described the visit as a political and economic success, achieving what he had hoped for in Washington — and, in some gestures, perhaps even more.
Meanwhile, Orbán publicly thanked Trump’s administration for shutting down the Hungarian edition of Radio Free Europe. He reposted a message from U.S. Global Media Agency head Kari Lake, who justified the move by claiming that the outlet had “weakened the Hungarian government.” Orbán’s short comment read simply: “Thank you.”
From the 1950s on, FE (Radio Free Europe) historically broadcast to Eastern European countries behind the Iron Curtain, as RL (Radio Liberty) focused on the Soviet Union. Something to do with communist information control (some of us may have forgotten those cheery days).
RFE and RLs mission is consistently described as promoting democratic values and institutions by reporting the news in countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. Essentially acting as a surrogate free press, reporting facts, for societies without their own.
Can imagine that our Politicians friends far and wide will also be very happy with this development!