At a press conference in Budapest, side by side with Orbán, Vance gives Orbán considerable support. At the same time, he repeatedly criticizes the EU's governance in Brussels.
"I want to send a signal to everyone, especially the bureaucrats in Brussels, who are doing everything they can to hold back the Hungarian people because they don't like the leader who actually stands up for the Hungarians," Vance says of his support for Orbán.
They talk about an energy crisis; they should do like Orbán. Prices are increasing here too but less than elsewhere, Vance claims.
Hungary and Slovakia are the only countries that have exemptions from the EU's import ban on Russian oil in light of the Russian offensive war in Ukraine.
A cornerstone?
The vice president also alleges, without evidence, that Brussels engaged in unauthorized election interference during the election campaign. He further claims that the pro-Russian Hungarian leader worked to broker peace in the war in Ukraine.
Vance's visit is expected to last two days and is aimed at supporting the eurosceptic and anti-immigration prime minister ahead of parliamentary elections. Orbán and his right-wing nationalist party Fidesz have recently also received verbal support from Vance's boss, President Donald Trump.
Orbán's leadership is a cornerstone of Trump's vision for a future Europe, Axios noted ahead of the visit. The national security strategy published by the White House in December warned of "civilizational obliteration" in Europe, including through immigration, low birth rates, alleged threats to free speech and a faltering economy.
In Budapest, JD Vance calls Viktor Orbán's leadership a "model for the European continent."
Love the people
The vice president also says that the United States wants Europe to be independent and strong and, together with the US, to stand for the "defense of Western civilization."
This weekend's Hungarian election is a major political challenge for Orbán, who has been in power for 16 years. Challenger Péter Magyar, with his social conservative Tisza party, has a clear advantage in the opinion polls.
JD Vance promises that the White House will cooperate with the winner, whoever it is, because it "loves the Hungarian people."
But Viktor will win.
