US Vice President Vance To Visit Hungary Ahead Of Crucial Election; CPAC Gathers Global Conservative Figures

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief reporting from Budapest, Hungary

BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – U.S. Vice President JD Vance is expected to visit Hungary in a last-minute show of support for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who faces his toughest election since returning to power in 2010, officials familiar with the planning confirmed.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said Vance is likely to arrive in early April, just days before Hungary’s parliamentary election scheduled for April 12.

The vice president’s office did not immediately confirm the trip, and officials cautioned that plans could still change due to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, which has kept senior American leaders focused on developments in the Middle East.

The planned visit comes as opinion polls suggest Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party is facing a serious challenge from the opposition Tisza Party led by Péter Magyar.

If confirmed, Vance’s trip would follow a February visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who publicly backed Orbán and described his leadership as important for U.S. strategic interests.

HIGH-STAKES VISIT BEFORE KEY VOTE

Rubio also indicated that continued close ties between Washington and Budapest could depend on Orbán’s re-election, signaling unusually direct U.S. engagement in Hungary’s domestic political landscape.

Orbán, 62, remains one of U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s closest allies in Europe. Trump recently endorsed the Hungarian leader, calling him “a truly strong and powerful Leader.”

Trump has also backed conservative figures globally, including Argentina’s Javier Milei and Japan’s Sanae Takaichi, while many on the American right view Orbán as a model for strict immigration policies and Christian conservative governance.

Vance, seen as a potential presidential contender in 2028, has played a growing role in shaping U.S. foreign policy and strengthening ties with like-minded governments.

The announcement came as Hungary hosted its fifth Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Saturday gathering at the MTK Sports Hall in Budapest, one of the world’s largest conservative meetings, which originated in the United States.

CPAC HUNGARY GATHERS GLOBAL FIGURES

According to organizers, confirmed participants include Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

Among other announced speakers were Dutch politician Geert Wilders, Dutch commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek, U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher, and American political commentator Dave Rubin.

Orbán opened the conference, describing what he called the “biggest political change of the past 100 years,” with the United States as its epicenter and Hungary as its European outpost.

“We are not just engaged in politics — we are fighting for the soul of the Western world,” Orbán said, arguing that national conservative forces must form international alliances to defeat what he called “globalists.”

He claimed that European democracy is “fading away” due to economic weakness, political censorship, and what he described as direct interference by Brussels in national elections.

ORBÁN WARNS OF EU PRESSURE

“They openly demand a pro-Brussels and pro-Ukraine government in Hungary. Well, that will not happen, my friends,” Orbán added.

He also vowed to challenge European Union institutions, declaring: “We will break open the gates of the progressives in Brussels. Make Europe great again.”

Orbán also praised U.S. President Donald Trump, saying his return to power had reshaped the Western political landscape.

“Since President Trump’s victory, the Western world has become a better place,” Orbán said, adding that “gender and woke ideology have been pushed into the background” and that Christianity could once again be openly embraced in the West.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also been listed as a speaker but was not expected to attend in person due to the ongoing war involving Israel, the United States, and Iran.

TRUMP INVITE AND ABSENCE

Organizers have previously sought to bring President Donald Trump to CPAC Hungary, including for this year’s gathering, but his attendance has not materialized amid mounting global tensions.

Trump has maintained a presence at earlier CPAC Hungary events through video messages.

Vance’s expected visit was unlikely to occur at the CPAC event itself.

Yet the CPAC Hungary gatherings have drawn criticism from press freedom advocates, as organizers typically restrict access for independent and critical media.

MEDIA ACCESS AND CRITICISM

A Worthy News reporter, among others, has previously been denied entry, with events often limited to carefully managed sessions streamed online without opportunities for unscripted questions.

Separately, the deepening U.S.-Hungary ties have sparked concern among some American lawmakers.

U.S. Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego has questioned whether Washington’s support for Orbán aligns with democratic values, citing Hungary’s “downward democratic trajectory” and raising concerns about what he described as overt political backing during Rubio’s visit.

Hungary’s election comes at a critical time for Europe, amid the war in Ukraine, economic pressures, and the rise of nationalist political movements.

ELECTION WITH EUROPE-WIDE IMPLICATIONS

Orbán has remained at odds with the European Union over issues including Ukraine, migration, and rule-of-law concerns.

He has maintained closer ties with Moscow than most EU leaders, refused to send weapons and financial assistance to Kyiv, and opposed Ukraine’s European Union membership.

With many voters still undecided, analysts say the outcome could reshape Hungary’s position within Europe — and influence the broader direction of conservative politics across the continent.

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