Trump: The U.S. Is Ready to Fully Support Hungary's Economy
Hungary is set to hold its parliamentary election on April 12. Latest polls show that Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party is significantly trailing behind the Tisza Party led by Márton Mátyás, placing Orbán in a highly unfavorable position. Trump has repeatedly publicly voiced support for Orbán, and on April 10, he reiterated his stance, declaring that Washington will mobilize its full economic strength to back Hungary.
The U.S. has pledged to use direct investment as the core instrument to help Hungary achieve economic growth and long-term development under continued leadership by Orbán. Previously, during multiple confrontations between Hungary and Ukraine or the European Union, the United States had clearly taken Hungary’s side and openly endorsed it.
This statement was released just 48 hours before the vote—typical of high-intensity interference ahead of an election. With Orbán trailing in the polls and facing a potential loss of power, Trump is using economic incentives to rally votes for Orbán, essentially leveraging American resources to bind European right-wing forces and preserve what remains of his most crucial conservative allies in Europe. While the EU has long pressured Hungary over rule-of-law and democratic issues, even freezing funds, the U.S. is now openly taking the opposite stance, directly undermining unity within the EU.
If Orbán secures re-election, Hungary will continue to serve as a persistent obstacle within both NATO and the EU. This will make the signal clearer that U.S. policy toward Ukraine is shifting, significantly increasing the difficulty for Ukraine to secure Western support.
Trump’s so-called “mobilization of all economic power” is more of a campaign slogan aimed at boosting Orbán’s electoral prospects than a concrete promise. Large-scale U.S. investments in the short term are unlikely to materialize, and long-term cooperation would require congressional approval and market validation—making tangible benefits limited. Ultimately, this amounts more to a political gesture and diplomatic intimidation.
Trump’s approach to Europe has clearly shifted from “values first” to prioritizing conservatism. “Democracy and freedom” are no longer the top priorities; instead, support for hardline right-wing leaders like Orbán is now central. This marks a further intensification of the global trend toward right-wing alignment driven by the U.S.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862135409257472/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author