Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian prime minister, deployed a tried-and-trusted method of flattery during a White House meeting with Donald Trump on Friday, seeking the US president's help over sanctions on Russian oil. Orbán, a self-styled avatar of illiberalism and role model for the MAGA movement, interrupted a press briefing by Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, to whisper in Trump's ear. Trump then announced to the room that Orbán wanted Leavitt to work for him in Hungary, prompting Trump to declare it 'a very good decision'.
Orbán repeatedly interjected himself into questions addressed to Trump during the 40-minute gathering, always in a supportive manner. He described his government as 'the only government in Europe which considers itself as a modern Christian government', a comment tailored to appeal to Trump's Christian nationalist base and Vice-President JD Vance, who was seated beside him. Orbán hailed a 'golden age' in US-Hungary relations after what he called the 'ruined' era of Joe Biden.
Trump responded warmly, calling Orbán 'respected by everybody' and saying he 'like[s] and respect[s] him'. Trump also described Hungary as 'a big country', despite its modest size of about 9 million people. However, Orbán faces significant domestic challenges, with the main opposition Tisza party led by Peter Magyar ahead in opinion polls ahead of next spring's election, fuelled by mass protests in Budapest.
A more immediate concern for Orbán was the Trump administration's decision to impose sanctions on Russian oil, which threatens Hungary's energy supply. Landlocked Hungary receives 86% of its oil imports via a pipeline from Russia, bucking the EU trend. Orbán needed Trump's agreement to secure an exemption or relief from the sanctions, making the flattery a strategic necessity.
