Donald Trump hosts Viktor Orban at Mar-a-Lago, praises Hungary PM as ‘fantastic leader’
- The former US president feted Orban with a tour of his resort, dinner with ex-first lady Melania Trump and musical performance by a band covering Roy Orbison
- Joe Biden criticised the meeting, saying the Hungarian leader was ‘looking for dictatorship’
Orban “is a non-controversial figure because he says, ‘this is the way it’s going to be,’ and that’s the end of it,” Trump joked to a room full of attendees at his Florida resort, according to video of the event posted by Orban on Instagram. “Right? He’s the boss. No – he’s a great leader, fantastic leader.”
Trump feted Orban with a tour of his residence, dinner with former first lady Melania Trump, an hourlong meeting with senior aides, and musical performance by a band covering Roy Orbison.
Biden criticised the planned get-together directly at a political rally in Philadelphia earlier Friday, saying Orban “doesn’t think democracy works” and was “looking for dictatorship.”
Orban has in the past urged the West to cut off financing for Ukraine, which he has said is the quickest way to force Kyiv to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia.