Why was Orban supported by Putin and Trump? The explanations of a former US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state and former US presidential candidate, explains why both US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin got involved in supporting Orban. The Democrat draws a parallel between Orban and Trump, showing that the situation in Hungary is a wake-up call for Americans.
Trump strongly supported Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. PHOTO: Profimedia
In addition to the historic victory of Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar, another aspect has analysts watching the 2026 parliamentary elections in Hungary with interest. The leader of the party that lost the election, Viktor Orban, has received support that seems against nature: both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have made significant efforts to support the FIDESZ leader.
Hungary's foreign minister was acting as an agent of Russian minister Sergei Lavrov and Viktor Orban was telling Putin “I will be like the mouse that pulls the thorn out of the lion's paw.” Putin sent his best secret service agents to Budapest who specialize in winning elections. Trump, on the other hand, had nothing but praise for Orban and sent Vice President JD Vance to Hungary to campaign for FIDESZ a few days before the election.
“Putin, Trump and Orban, a harmful alliance between autocrats”
Asked what Americans should make of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin teaming up to help Viktor Orbán win the election, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former US first lady and former presidential candidate, says it's about: “A harmful alliance between autocrats and leaders who want to become autocrats.”
Orban has turned from an anti-Russian and anti-communist student into an ally of Putin, the Democrat explains. “This is not the first election in which Putin intervenes. It was a resounding defeat for Putin and this tells us that the people will not tolerate the kind of oppression that Orban was imposing on them. Orban dominated the government, but also the judiciary, strangled the free press, but took over the universities and told them what to teach. We must learn that you cannot allow the 'rule' of one man, because that leads to corruption, to oppression, to a destruction of democratic institutions, to reckless decisions, as we see with Trump in Iran.”
Clinton says Peter Magyar's victory is a wake-up call for Americans. “I don't care what your political preferences are, if you're an American you have to care about American democracy and in the 250th year since the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America you want to be independent of the kind of behavior that Trump is having who is trying to model himself after Vladimir Putin. Viktor Orban has learned that the Hungarians will not accept this and I hope the Americans will not accept this. I hope we see that in the elections of mid-term and the next presidential election.”
The first official reaction of the Trump administration after the Hungarian elections. JD Vance is 'saddened' by Viktor Orbán's defeat
“A significant defeat for Putin and Trump”
The end of Viktor Orban's autocratic regime is a victory not just for Hungary, but for people who value democracy around the world, Clinton argued.
“It's a victory for Hungarians, for Europe, for democracy, and it's a significant defeat for Putin, Trump and the forces of authoritarianism around the world. The election was obviously first and foremost about Hungarians and what they wanted. The theme of anti-corruption, of Hungarians' disgust with the corruption of Orban, his family, his accomplices, his cronies, was one of the driving forces behind a historic turnout.” – almost 80%.”
The former Secretary of State mentioned JD Vance's visit to Budapest before the election to support Orban, in which he obsessively mentioned the need to save Western civilization. “In fact, the vote against Orban is a vote for Western civilization, it is a victory for responsible government, the rule of law, a victory against corruption. It is a victory against leaders who approach dictators like Vladimir Putin. Orban attacked the independent judiciary. He attacked the free press. He attacked the political institutions that promoted democracy,” says Clinton.
Cost of living and anti-corruption
As for the lessons for American Democrats, Clinton emphasized that they need to put the issues of reasonable cost of living and accountability for governance/anti-corruption policy at the center of their election bid, just like Tisza's party did.
“We're going in the wrong direction under Donald Trump. We're seeing inflation going up. We're seeing costs going up in everything from rent to gas to health insurance.”
Reasonable prices and accountability for governance go hand in hand.
“Accountability starts with curbing corruption in the White House. Corruption isn't just about the amount of money Trump and his family amass, it's about those they associate with, those who benefit from the Trump administration at the expense of working people and the middle class. We need to focus on both the cost of living and the accountability of those who govern.”she explained.
People need to see, says Hillary, that there is a connection between the cost of living and the enrichment of the Trump family and their associates: “Every act they do has a transactional side that benefits them.”
