United States Vice President J.D. Vance unexpectedly left Budapest on Wednesday evening, cutting short what had originally been expected to be an extended stay in the Hungarian capital.
Earlier reports had suggested Vance would remain in Budapest for an additional day beyond his initial schedule. Instead, the US vice president was seen departing from Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport late on Wednesday, where he briefly answered reporters’ questions beside Air Force Two before boarding.
The sudden change in plans came after the White House confirmed that Vance will lead the American delegation in the upcoming peace talks with Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan. The negotiations, expected to begin on Friday, are now seen as one of the most significant diplomatic developments in the region in recent weeks, Index reported based on CNN.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Vance had played a “very significant and key role from the beginning”, describing him as President Donald Trump’s “right hand” in the diplomatic effort.
Budapest stopover turns into diplomatic launchpad
Vance arrived in Budapest on Tuesday, where he was received by Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó before holding talks with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at the Carmelite Monastery.
The two leaders later appeared together at a joint press conference, where discussions reportedly covered defence and space industry cooperation, the war in Ukraine, the European energy crisis, and claims of foreign interference surrounding Hungary’s parliamentary elections.
During the visit, Vance praised Orbán as a statesman and signalled strong political support for the Hungarian prime minister just days before Hungary’s 2026 general election.
On Wednesday, the US vice president also appeared at the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), where he answered questions from director-general Zoltán Szalai in front of students. Topics included the Russia–Ukraine war, the fragile Iran ceasefire, and the wider geopolitical background to the upcoming talks.
In remarks that drew attention in Hungary’s already heated election campaign, Vance also echoed Orbán government concerns about alleged outside influence on Hungarian domestic politics, including claims linked to Ukraine’s energy policy and Brussels’ financial pressure.
Fragile ceasefire and Lebanon warning before take-off
Before leaving Budapest, Vance also commented on the delicate two-week ceasefire framework involving the United States, Iran and Israel.
He suggested Israel should “show some restraint” regarding its military operations against Lebanon during the ceasefire period, although he stressed this was not a formal condition of the truce but rather a potential sign of goodwill toward Washington as negotiations move forward.
Vance also described Tehran’s interpretation of the deal as a “legitimate misunderstanding”, saying Iran had mistakenly believed the ceasefire extended to Lebanon as well. According to the US position, the current arrangement applies specifically to Iran, Israel and the Gulf Arab states.
From Budapest to Islamabad
With Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner also expected to join the American side in Islamabad, Vance’s first trip after Hungary is likely to place him at the centre of the most consequential US-Iran talks in decades.
His early departure from Budapest, therefore, transforms what was initially a politically symbolic Central European visit into the immediate preparation to a major diplomatic mission.
Find Daily News Hungary’s articles covering Vance’s visit below in chronological order:
- Rescuing PM Orbán? US Vice President Vance has landed at Budapest Airport —will his visit help Orbán win on Sunday?
- Breaking: Budapest Airport closed due to JD Vance visit
- Trump via phone to PM Orbán this afternoon: “I am a big fan of Viktor” – video
- JD Vance stays an extra day in Hungary, Budapest Airport-area closures expected on Thursday
- J. D. Vance in Budapest on foreign intervention, the EU, and Ukraine
Following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump again accused NATO partners on the platform TruthSocial of insufficient support for the war against Iran, once more bringing up the dispute over Greenland. He told the allies to remember Greenland, which he described as “a big, badly managed piece of ice.” The Arctic island, which Trump had sought to annex for the US at the beginning of the year, belongs to the territory of NATO member Denmark.
At the beginning of the year, Trump had openly flirted with the idea of taking over the strategically important Arctic island of Greenland – by force if necessary. He ultimately abandoned this plan after a storm of outrage among European NATO partners. However, he insisted on negotiations on the issue.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration is considering withdrawing troops from countries that have not supported the US offensive against Iran in order to “punish” NATO for its stance. The soldiers could be redeployed to countries considered more cooperative, the newspaper reported, citing unnamed government officials. This was one of several plans under discussion to discipline the partners, it said.
Frankly, I wouldn’t mind if the US headquarters in Germany were dissolved and moved to Hungary. Then Hungary could enter into a genuine “love affair” in the sense and as envisioned by Trump. That would probably suit Orbán, since he has absolutely no regard for his European partners, who he believes are all wrong and nothing but warmongers (except for his friend Fico). I wish best luck!
Reuters reports Israel pounded Lebanon with its heaviest strikes yet on Wednesday, killing hundreds of people and drawing a threat of retaliation from Iran, which suggested it would be “unreasonable” to proceed with talks to forge a permanent peace deal with the United States.
The two sides have laid out sharply contrasting agendas for peace talks set to start on Saturday, but it was unclear whether the two-week ceasefire would hold until then.
Unfortunately, since Trump, only amateurs have been at the table, as it’s striking that negotiations by the Trump administration always proceed at a pub-talk level. Therefore, it’s not surprising that they constantly have to be renegotiated, but what can you expect from a triumvirate consisting of a construction contractor, a real estate investor, and a property developer? That’s all they can manage!
Reuters reports Donald Trump’s dramatic climbdown from his chilling threat to wipe out Iran’s civilization has exposed the limits – and the rising risks – of the U.S. president’s typically unpredictable negotiating style.
His decision on Tuesday to back down and agree to a two-week ceasefire – which critics mockingly called another example of “TACO,” or “Trump always chickens out” – marked the biggest step so far toward de-escalating a 40-day-old war that has shaken the Middle East and disrupted global energy markets.
After a day on the brink, Trump abruptly reversed his threats – which experts say could have amounted to war crimes – and announced a Pakistani-mediated truce agreement just two hours before a deadline he had set for Iran to open the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.
He claimed in his post that the U.S. had “already met and exceeded all Military objectives.”
Trump has touted himself as a master negotiator since his real estate developer days, but some analysts say he can box himself in with his negotiating style and undermine U.S. credibility on the world stage.
“The president was trapped by his own hyperbole,” said Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington. “He could not have destroyed Iranian civilization, and the costs of even appearing to try would have been massive.”
“The surprise value is wearing off,” said a Republican lawmaker who had been in contact with the White House on Tuesday night, referring to Trump’s habit of making reversals after tough-sounding threats.
American journalist Annett Meiritz attested to a certain resistance to advice shown by the US president. For example, there had been warnings about Iran’s military capabilities. But Trump apparently only wanted to hear what he wanted to hear.
It’s important to remember, she said, “that the circle of people who influence Donald Trump has become very, very, very small.” No more than five or six people even have “Trump’s ear” anymore.
One indication of this, she explained, is the state of the US National Security Council. “We have a complete overhaul of the intelligence agencies under Donald Trump,” Meiritz stated.
The president dismissed two-thirds of the political personnel. Recently, there have been cases where top diplomats from Germany and Europe couldn’t get through to the Pentagon or the State Department “because they didn’t know exactly who to call.”
But of course, there’s no chaos in the US. 🙂 One can only hope that Russia and China won’t exploit this glaring weakness in the Trump administration. But that’s not a certainty.
US soldiers on deployment are faced with grounded jets, blocked ships, and broken furnaces – because contracts prohibit them from repairing them.
Expensive jets, modern warships, armored vehicles, and soldiers standing by, powerless to do anything. This is precisely the picture painted by reports from the US military portal “Task & Purpose”: Contracts with defense contractors often forbid US soldiers from repairing their own equipment.
Instead, civilian technicians must be flown in or even shipped out to sea. According to “Task & Purpose,” this has resulted in fighter jets worth millions of dollars remaining grounded for months. The US Navy has also paid millions of dollars to fly company representatives onto ships for repairs that well-trained shipboard technicians could easily perform themselves.
Perhaps one should ask: Who benefits from this, and who profits from it? Not only Trump, but it seems the entire USA is its own worst enemy. It’s no wonder the USA has never won a war since 1945, because that won’t be the only obstacle. Perhaps they’ll end up selling the rope with which they will ultimately be hanged.
Geez Karl May, if that is your name! – do you have any more to say? Also, I’m just wondering who’s side are you on, because you sure have a lot to say….
There is nothing more to it! I feel obligated only to truth and humanity. Not more!
@DNH PLEASE deal with this spam? And if you click the link – yes. Genuine fraudsters.
It is fortunate for the US that democratic institutions are responding with confidence and repeatedly thwarting the attempts of freedom-haters.
Die Welt reports that a battle for press freedom is raging in the US. The Pentagon has suffered another legal defeat in the dispute over stricter rules for journalists. A federal judge sharply reprimanded the Department of Defense for violating a previous court order. This order stipulated that media representatives must once again be granted access to the Pentagon.
In his order, the judge demanded stricter regulations. The Pentagon must explain by April 16 how it will implement the new order. According to a spokesperson, the Department of Defense intends to appeal.
Federal Judge Paul Friedman stated that it was very clear what this was about: namely, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s attempt to “dictate what information the American public receives.” He criticized the US Constitution and the American people, saying they demand more from their government. The judge warned that restricting freedom of expression and of the press is dangerous at any time, “especially in times of war.” He further stated that the suppression of political freedom of expression is “the hallmark of an autocracy, not a democracy.”
Analysis by Josef Braml in Focus (excerpt):
Trump’s Iran policy is meant to demonstrate strength – but it exposes America’s limitations. The conflict shatters the myth of military superiority and marks a turning point in global power.
The Trump administration’s frantic foreign policy activism toward Iran is intended to demonstrate strength. In reality, it reveals the growing economic, political, and strategic insecurity of the United States – and marks the end of an illusion upon which American power projection was based for decades.
In a rambling address to the American public on April 1, US President Donald Trump declared the war against Iran a success. He said they would “finish the job very quickly.” This statement stands in stark contrast to reality.
Trump continues to treat Iran as just another weak adversary that absorbs military pressure, strikes back locally – and ultimately capitulates. But Iran has now broken precisely this interventionist model.
A key reason for the American miscalculation lies in an illusion: the assumption that higher military spending automatically guarantees superiority. But from Vietnam to Afghanistan and beyond, it has become clear time and again that military dominance does not force political victories. The US has repeatedly become entangled in costly wars of attrition that it could neither decisively win nor sustain in the long run.
Iran has changed the rules of the game! For years, Iran’s security doctrine has relied on “forward defense.” It is not based on conventional military parity, but on asymmetric capabilities: ballistic and cruise missiles, drones, cyber capabilities, and a network of partners and proxies in the region.
When the US and Israel launched military attacks, Iran was able to respond immediately—not symbolically, but strategically.