This is when Trump may visit Budapest to bolster Orbán ahead of 2026 elections
Donald Trump could make a rare appearance in Central Europe, potentially boosting Viktor Orbán’s chances in Hungary’s 2026 elections. The former US president might visit the region either to mediate peace between Ukraine and Russia or to strengthen ties with his new political ally, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Both Budapest and Bratislava (Pozsony) have expressed interest in hosting peace talks, though it seems implausible such negotiations would occur in a NATO country. Vienna appears a more likely candidate.
The Hungarian government is eager to host Trump in Budapest, but insiders suggest this would only be realistic ahead of Hungary’s 2026 general election.
Orbán and Trump: An unlikely bromance
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been one of Trump’s longest-standing international supporters, endorsing him in 2015, long before Trump became the Republican Party’s official nominee. Over the past few years, the Hungarian government has poured significant resources into cultivating its relationship with Trump and his allies. We covered what we know about it in THIS article. After Trump’s election victory, the relationship seemed to bear fruit: the former president reportedly called Orbán on 6 November to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Orbán proudly reported that Trump called him on 6 November:
However, the Orbán-Trump alliance is not without its tensions. Despite Orbán’s repeated assurances to his supporters that Trump’s presidency would swiftly end the conflict in Ukraine and lift what he described as “harmful” sanctions, Trump has suggested harsher penalties against Russia if the war continues. This divergence has raised questions about the practical limits of their political alignment.
A meeting in Budapest: not a simple task
Despite Orbán’s well-publicised ties to Trump, arranging a visit to Budapest is proving challenging. While the Hungarian government has already offered the capital as a venue for peace talks, this proposal remains unlikely. We wrote HERE about a Russian senator who thought it was a good idea. Hosting a meeting between Russia and the United States in a NATO member state is viewed as implausible; Vienna, or even non-NATO countries like Türkiye or Qatar, seems a far more feasible option.
According to Szabolcs Panyi, writing in the latest VSquare newsletter, Trump is indeed planning a European trip but is more likely to visit Meloni in Italy, with possible stops in Paris and Berlin depending on Germany’s upcoming elections. However, Türkiye or Qatar is also likely for a Trump-Putin meeting. Budapest, it seems, is lower on the agenda.
When Trump may come to Budapest: Orbán’s White House hopes and the 2026 CPAC
Panyi wrote that “the Hungarian government is determined to lobby for Budapest’s inclusion in any European tour but has come to realise that securing a White House visit for Viktor Orbán may be more plausible.” Interestingly, Orbán did not attend Trump’s inauguration on 20 January. Instead, he spoke at a conference about Hungary’s achievements during its presidency of the Council of the European Union. Later, government communications stated that the inauguration is a ceremonial event where serious negotiations are unlikely. This, they explained, is why Orbán did not travel to Washington on 20 January.
However, Mr Panyi mentioned an event organised in Budapest that could provide an opportunity for Orbán to invite the president. Budapest has been hosting the annual CPAC events, a gathering of Trump-supporting Republicans, for years. As a result, it’s possible that Trump could attend the 2026 Budapest CPAC, an event scheduled ahead of the general elections that year. Hungarian media have previously reported that organising a CPAC is costly, making it unaffordable for many countries.
Orbán is likely to face his toughest challenge next April or May from Péter Magyar, the ex-husband of former Justice Minister Judit Varga, who is already leading in the polls. Opposition leadership in the polls has not occurred in Hungary for almost two decades. Therefore, the American president’s presence in Budapest during the final weeks before the election could prove crucial for Orbán, who is seen by his opponents as a pariah in international politics.
Meanwhile, Orbán may visit Trump at the White House, and Trump’s vice president, JD Vance, could make a trip to Hungary.
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Hungary may be the only country on this planet where an appearance by convicted criminal and coup plotter Donald Trump could bolster the electoral chances of a leader and that says something about how Fidesz propaganda has shaped the mindset of Hungarians. Someone might suggest Israel but I very much doubt Trump would do much to help Netanyahu.