#viktor-orban

#viktor-orban

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his very large team of ministers, propagandists and members of the country's well-connected economic elite flew to Washington on November 7 to meet President Donald Trump, the first bilateral meeting of the two leaders since his return to power. The trip itself was unprecedented in its scale and unusual because of its historical context. A veritable spectacle. Trump has been pressuring Orban to align with his sanctions on Russian fossil fuels and purchase more American LNG.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground.

As the leaders met, Trump promised to consider a waiver for Hungary on Russian oil sanctions. "We are looking at it because it is very difficult for him to get the oil and gas from other areas. As you know they don't have the advantage of having sea," he said. Meanwhile, Orban said he would explain to Trump "what would be the consequences for the Hungarian people and for the Hungarian economy not to get oil and gas from Russia." "Because we are supplied by pipelines. Pipeline is not an ideological or political issue. It's a physical reality because we don't have port(s)," Orban said.

Viktor Orban will visit the White House on Friday as Hungary's far-right prime minister tries to broker another summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin that Orban's advisers claim could help end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Orban, who has proposed hosting the summit in Budapest, will also seek an exemption from US sanctions against Russian energy in what will be a major test of Trump's tougher line on the Kremlin after he accused Putin of slow-rolling negotiations to end the conflict.

Hungary's government has made clear it will not arrest Vladimir Putin, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, if he arrives in Budapest for peace talks. Speaking to state radio on Friday, Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban hailed the fact his country would host the meeting. Budapest is essentially the only place in Europe today where such a meeting could be held, primarily because Hungary is almost the only pro-peace country.

After President Donald Trump designated Antifa a terrorist group earlier this week, "the time has also come in Hungary" to do the same, said Prime Minister Viktor Orbán Friday on state radio. A conservative nationalist who is popular among Trump supporters, Orbán declared, "Antifa is a terrorist organization." Antifa is an amorphous left-wing movement that rose in prominence during the first Trump administration.

Ursula von der Leyen faced criticism from Viktor Orban, who labeled her a "featherweight" and claimed she was easily outmatched by American counterparts.

Fico's veto stance was portrayed as a question of national sovereignty and national pride, claiming the sanctions would harm Slovakia's economy and energy supplies.

"There was a lot of legal uncertainty created by Orbán, and this is exactly the same playbook which is being used by the Trump administration."

Orban celebrated the chaos wrought by the 'Trump tornado' and called on 'conservatives' to seize the opportunity it offers: "We have to go home, and everyone has to win their own election."