Trump meets with pro-Putin Orban and calls him a "boss" and a "fantastic leader"

Former U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at his residence in Florida. During the meeting, Trump called Orban a "boss" and a "fantastic leader" while mocking criticism of his illiberal tendencies.

This was reported by Bloomberg. The visit came after Biden criticized Trump for his position on aid to Ukraine.

"Orban is a non-controversial figure because he says, ‘this is the way it’s going to be,’ and that’s the end of it. Right? He’s the boss. No - he’s a great leader, fantastic leader," Trump said.

Trump organized a tour of his residence for Orban, had dinner with former First Lady Melania Trump, and organized an hour-long meeting with his top aides and a performance by a musical group.

Earlier, Biden criticized the planned meeting, saying that Orban "does not believe that democracy works" and "seeks dictatorship."

In the past, Orban has called on the West to cut off funding for Ukraine, arguing that this is the fastest way to force Kyiv to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia.

The Biden administration has criticized Orban for his close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he met last October in China, and for legislation in Hungary that the State Department warned could "intimidate and punish" critics of the Orban government.

Last month, Trump rejected the Biden administration's request for billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine, arguing that lawmakers should set certain conditions for the aid or treat it as a loan.

The former American president described Orban as a "strong leader." The prime minister has built an image as a strong leader in Hungary and has used his veto power to thwart efforts to build consensus in the European Union.

The two politicians share a narrative based on a declared fight against the established order and criticism of the Biden administration for its influence on Hungarian democracy and Orban's close relations with Beijing and Moscow.

For Orban, the meeting with Trump is an opportunity to shed his white-crow image and position himself as a potential mediator between Europe and the United States if Trump wins the November election. While leaders from across Europe are reconnecting with the Trump team, few of them have the direct line and camaraderie that Orban has with the former president.

The Orban government has been developing ties with Trump's allies for years. The Hungarian leader was the first European prime minister to express support for Trump during his first presidential campaign. He also called for Trump's return in 2024 and called the court cases against the former president a "witch hunt," reflecting how Orban accuses the EU of backsliding on democracy in Hungary.

"Trump's return is a prerequisite for a lasting and rapid peace on the European continent. From the Hungarian point of view and from the point of view of peace, Trump's return is more than welcome," Orban said at a diplomatic forum in Turkey last week.

Earlier, it was reported that Hungary explained why a meeting between Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not yet taken place. It is claimed that the conditions necessary for it are not yet ready. This was stated by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.

As reported, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that he did not want his country to have a common border with Russia. He "has bad memories" about this. Obviously, Orban is referring to the last century when Hungary bordered the U.S.S.R. and when the Soviet authorities suppressed the Hungarian uprising in 1956.

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