Hungary’s leader comments on US 2024 race and Trump’s prospects
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently conveyed his hope that former President Donald Trump would gain another term in the White House amid polls ahead of the 2024 United States presidential election, according to a Bloomberg report. He expressed that he believes Trump could perform well at the ballot box and that this outcome would be favorable for the Republican candidate’s prospects in a competitive political climate.
When pressed by a journalist, Orban stated that he hopes the former president will achieve a successful result. In his view, Trump is a figure with whom Hungary could find common ground on several policy areas, and he suggested that such a result would align with his own interests in strengthening international cooperation with the United States. At the same time, Orban noted that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is frequently discussed as Trump’s potential main opponent within the party, is a person he respects as a political actor. He added that criticizing current U.S. President Joe Biden would not be advantageous for business or for the broader political conversation between Hungary and the United States.
In a related remark, former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shared his preference for Biden’s victory in the 2024 US presidential race. Scholz described a Biden continuation as preferable to a continuation of the Trump presidency, suggesting that the current administration offers more predictability and stability from the perspective of European partners and global economic matters.
Observers note that these statements reflect the ongoing interest of European leaders in the direction of U.S. policy and its potential impact on transatlantic relations. The positions voiced by Orban and Scholz underscore how shifts in U.S. leadership can influence regional diplomacy, economic policy, and international cooperation with allies across Europe and beyond. The comments also illustrate the broader conversation about how political changes in Washington are interpreted by partners in Central and Eastern Europe, as they weigh strategic and economic ties in a rapidly changing global landscape. [Bloomberg report] [Policy reflections and cross-national commentary cited by major outlets]