Viktor Orbán invites Trump to Hungary to boost re-election campaign |
[ad_1]
Hungary’s far-right prime minister Viktor Orbán is hoping Donald Trump will travel to Budapest in the coming weeks to boost his reelection campaign.
A thinktank linked to the Orbán government, the Centre for Fundamental Rights, has issued an invitation to Trump, a government source told The Guardian.
The invitation comes as Orbán moves into campaigning mode ahead of a closely fought election due on 3 April, when his Fidesz party will face a united opposition coalition, in what is seen as the biggest challenge to his rule since he became prime minister 12 years ago.
“People in Fidesz would really like Trump to visit Budapest in March,” said the source, who added that Trump has not yet replied to the invite. If it happens, the visit would be Trump’s first known trip outside the US since he lost the elections in 2020.
Orbán was an early Trump supporter, endorsing him as early as summer 2016, and he also publicly backed him in the 2020 vote. The pair spoke by telephone in January, and Trump returned the favour, publicly endorsing Orbán for the April election. An in-person visit by the former US president would be seen as a major campaign boost.
“These visits have a huge influence in the Hungarian conservative community, because they see [Trump] as an icon, as someone who spent his presidency in a strong headwind,” said a source close to Fidesz.
One former Republican staffer said Trump is known to fear contracting Covid while travelling abroad and may prefer not to travel.
“,”unixDate”:1485795600000},{“title”:”Michael Flynn – fired “,”date”:”13 February 2017″,”body”:”
Trump fired national security adviser Michael Flynn after he apparently misled vice president Mike Pence over conversations he’d had with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
“,”unixDate”:1487005200000},{“title”:”Preet Bharara – fired”,”date”:”10 March 2017″,”body”:”
Trump fired Preet Bharara, US attorney for New York’s Southern District, who had refused to comply with an order to resign.
“,”unixDate”:1489165200000},{“title”:”Katie Walsh – resigned “,”date”:”30 March 2017″,”body”:”
Katie Walsh, deputy chief of staff and a Reince Priebus ally, quit. She later said she decided to make the move after the initial failure of a Trump-backed health care bill in the House.
“,”unixDate”:1490889600000},{“title”:”James Comey – fired “,”date”:”9 May 2017″,”body”:”
Most notoriously, Trump fired FBI director James Comey. Initially, Trump cited Comey’s handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation as the reason behind his decision. Later, Trump admitted “this Russia thing with Trump and Russia” (ie the investigation into collusion to swing the election between the president’s camp and Moscow) had been on his mind.
“,”unixDate”:1494345600000},{“title”:”Walter Shaub Jr. – resigned “,”date”:”6 July 2017″,”body”:”
Walter Shaub Jr., office of government ethics…
[ad_2]
Read More: Viktor Orbán invites Trump to Hungary to boost re-election campaign |