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Vance Defends Orbán
Vance defended his last-minute campaign trip to Hungary to back Orbán.
“Vance has insisted he was right to stage a two-day campaign visit to back Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán”
He insisted Orbán was a great guy who did a very good job.
The trip came five days before Orbán was voted out by Tisza's landslide victory.
Péter Magyar had been critical of Vance's intervention but acknowledged the U.S. as a strong and important NATO partner.
Orbán will continue in a caretaker role until Magyar is sworn in.
Criticism from McConnell
Senator Mitch McConnell slammed the U.S. conservative backing of Orbán.
He called it a myth that Orbán made Hungary stronger as an oasis of traditionalism.
Orbán’s champions may consider his illiberal court-packing an acceptable price for their desired social utopia.
Hungary’s religious participation and birth rates have declined right alongside the rest of the West.
McConnell also slammed Orbán’s fealty to Moscow.
Vance Reflects on Defeat
Vance said he was sad but not surprised that Orbán lost.
“We didn’t go because we expected Viktor Orbán to cruise to an election victory”
The decision to campaign was more about showing up for a loyal ally.
The comments marked the first acknowledgment by the White House of Hungary’s rejection of Orbán.
Orban had been a model of governance for many in the MAGA movement.
Vance explained the decision was because he’s one of the few European leaders willing to stand up to Brussels.