Share this @internewscast.com

Former President Donald Trump on Friday met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at Mar-a-Lago, drawing a swift rebuke from President Joe Biden on the campaign trail.

In a readout of the meeting, the Trump campaign said that they “met today at Mar-a-Lago to discuss a wide range of issues affecting Hungary and the United States, including the paramount importance of strong and secure borders to protect the sovereignty of each nation.” The campaign also shared photos of the meeting.

Orbán, who has sought to turn his country into an “illiberal state” while resisting the expansion of NATO and additional aid to Ukraine, has faced criticism for efforts at undermining democracy in Hungary by weakening the judiciary and stifling independent media. He has also forged close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Biden was sharply critical of Trump’s meeting with Orbán during remarks at a campaign reception in Pennsylvania where he hammered home his message that the November election is about freedom and democracy.

“You know who he’s meeting with today and — down in Mar-a-Lago? Orbán of Hungary, who stated flatly he doesn’t think democracy works,” Biden said.

“I see a future where we defend democracy, not diminish it,” he added.

Orbán, who has been prime minister since 2010, posted videos on his Instagram account Friday where he appeared with Trump and former first lady Melania Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

A day earlier, Orbán visited the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington, for an event that was closed to the press. In a post to X after his appearance there, he wrote: “Supporting families, fighting illegal migration and standing up for the sovereignty of our nations. This is the common ground for cooperation between the conservative forces of Europe and the U.S.”

Skeptical of sending weapons to Ukraine, vehemently anti-immigrant and hostile to what he calls “woke” culture and LGBTQ rights, Orbán is a darling of many pro-Trump Republicans who see his government as a model of Christian nationalism.

Orbán “is exactly the kind of strong leader Trump has an affinity for,” Karen Donfried, who served as assistant secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs in the Biden administration and is now a senior fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, told NBC News.

It is highly unusual, she noted, for a visiting head of state to travel to the U.S. and meet with a political opponent of the president without also meeting top officials at the White House.

With a possible Trump victory in November, Donfried said Orbán is keen “to strengthen a relationship that already is quite good.”

Trump last month posted a clip on Truth Social platform that featured Orbán praising him during his State of the Nation address and detailing a desire for Trump to return to the White House. In 2022, Trump endorsed Orbán months before he was re-elected to a fourth term.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Square Roots Festival 2025: Live music festival returns to Lincoln Square, Chicago with bands, craft beers and family fun

Square Roots Festival 2025: Lincoln Square, Chicago Welcomes Back Live Music, Craft Beers, and Family Fun

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Square Roots festival is set to return from…
Passengers evacuating a Ryanair plane on the tarmac.

Ryanair Plane in Majorca Experiences Fire Alert; 18 Injured as Passengers Evacuate and Jump from Wing

EIGHTEEN people were injured after a fire alert onboard a Ryanair plane…
'The Office' actor Craig Robinson reveals he's quitting comedy to 'focus on my true calling'

‘The Office’ Star Craig Robinson Announces Shift Away from Comedy to Pursue ‘My True Passion’

Is this a joke? Comedian Craig Robinson, best known for his role…
Bikes fill Neptune Beach's First Street for Fourth of July tradition

Neptune Beach’s First Street Fills with Bikes for July 4th Celebration

Neptune Beach Police shut down First Street to cars to accommodate the…
Parents desperately seeking answers on missing campers after Texas flood

Identities Released of Three Campers Who Died as Texas Flood Death Toll Increases

Three young girls were found dead after a devastating flood swept through…
Indianapolis mass shooting leaves 2 dead, several others wounded

Two Killed and Several Injured in Indianapolis Mass Shooting

Two people were killed in a shooting that injured at least seven…
Tropical Storm Chantal forms off South Carolina coast

Tropical Storm Chantal Develops Near the Coast of South Carolina

On Saturday morning, Tropical Storm Chantal emerged near the coast of South…
Hakeem Jeffries Reemerges, Doubles Down on Democrats' Big Lie About OBBB and the American Dream

Hakeem Jeffries Resurfaces, Reinforces Democrats’ False Narrative on OBBB and the American Dream

The Democrats tell dishonest statements so often, it’s hard sometimes to rank…
Subway riders deliver street justice to brute who grabbed screaming woman on platform

Subway Commuters Take Action Against Man Who Attacked Woman on Platform

A group of everyday New York City subway riders delivered some street…
Is a hot dog a sandwich? The Hot Dog Council has a very strong opinion

The Great Debate: Is a Hot Dog Considered a Sandwich? Insights from the Hot Dog Council

(SavorNation) – America has two great pastimes: enjoying hot dogs and getting…
Chelsea benefits from Palmeiras own goal to reach FIFA Club World Cup semifinals

Chelsea Advances to FIFA Club World Cup Semifinals Following Palmeiras Own Goal

PHILADELPHIA — Chelsea clinched their place in the Club World Cup semifinals…
Christie Brinkley admits she is a 'fool for love' despite four failed marriages

Christie Brinkley Confesses She’s a ‘Romantic at Heart’ Even After Four Divorces

Christie Brinkley is no stranger to love. The legendary supermodel, who has been…