Orban Stirs Up Concerns He Plans a Trump Surprise for EU Leaders

Hungarian leader could invite former president on leaders call
Budapest is hosting an informal EU summit at end of next week

Viktor Orban
Photographer: Akos Stiller/Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Jorge Valero, Alberto Nardelli, and Andra Timu

October 31, 2024 at 1:46 PM EDT

Viktor Orban held a phone call with Donald Trump on Thursday, raising concerns among some European Union officials that the Hungarian premier may be planning to invite him to dial into an upcoming EU meeting should he win next week’s US election.

Orban, who posted on X that he’d spoken to the Republican presidential candidate to wish him the best of luck ahead of the Nov. 5 vote, could ask him to join EU leaders via a video link or share a recorded message when they meet in Budapest next week, according to several EU diplomats.