U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio openly endorsed Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s bid for a fifth consecutive term during a high-profile visit to Budapest, underscoring the strong personal ties between Orbán and U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of Hungary’s April 12 elections.

Speaking at a joint press conference in the Hungarian capital, Rubio described U.S.-Hungary relations as entering a “golden age” under Trump, emphasizing that the bond between the two leaders goes beyond traditional diplomacy.

“I’m going to be very blunt with you,” Rubio said. “The prime minister and the president have a very, very close personal relationship and working relationship, and I think it has been beneficial to our two countries.” He added that Trump is “deeply committed” to Orbán’s success, framing it as mutually beneficial for both nations.

Orbán, who has governed Hungary since 2010, faces what analysts describe as his toughest electoral challenge in 16 years. Despite trailing in several opinion polls, the nationalist leader has actively highlighted his alignment with Trump and the broader MAGA movement in the run-up to the vote.

Nuclear Deal and Strategic Alignment

During Rubio’s visit, the two governments signed an agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation. The deal includes the potential purchase of small modular reactors (SMRs), as well as U.S.-supplied nuclear fuel and spent fuel storage technology. The agreement reflects Washington’s broader effort to strengthen energy partnerships in Central Europe.

Hungary and neighboring Slovakia—both led by euroskeptic populist governments—have been seen as favorable ground for Rubio’s diplomatic push. Orbán, widely viewed within the European Union as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in the bloc, has maintained warm relations with Moscow despite the war in Ukraine.

Budapest has continued purchasing Russian energy, resisting EU efforts to phase out such imports. Orbán reportedly secured an exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian energy following a November meeting at the White House with Trump. Rubio declined to clarify how long that exemption would remain in place, as the EU aims to eliminate Russian fossil fuels entirely by the end of 2027.

Orbán also stated that Hungary would be willing to host a future trilateral peace summit involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine. He reiterated that Trump has an “open invitation” to visit Budapest before the elections.

In addition, Orbán accused Ukraine and its president, Vladimir Zelenskiy, of attempting to influence Hungary’s domestic politics by criticizing his opposition to military and financial support for Kyiv and his threats to block Ukraine’s eventual EU membership.

Many figures within the MAGA movement and broader conservative circles view Hungary as a model of nationalist governance, citing Orbán’s hardline immigration policies and his government’s restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights. Orbán himself has adapted Trump’s campaign slogan, declaring his ambition to “Make Europe Great Again.”

With elections looming, Rubio’s public endorsement provides Orbán with a significant symbolic boost, reinforcing the Hungarian leader’s narrative of close alignment with Washington’s current Republican leadership.