US Vice President JD Vance to Meet Orbán Amid Poll Slump for Hungarian Leader BUDAPEST, April 3, 2026 US Vice President JD Vance will visit Budapest next week to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as his ruling Fidesz party trails the opposition by 19 points in a new poll ahead of the April 12 parliamentary election. The two-day meeting, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, comes as Orbán’s Fidesz party holds just 37% support among decided voters, according to a survey by the 21 Research Centre. The opposition Tisza party leads with 56%, while 26% of respondents remain undecided. The visit marks continued US engagement with Orbán’s government despite his declining domestic standing. In February, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced strong support for the Hungarian leader, stating in German: *"Ich kann Ihnen mit Zuversicht sagen, dass Präsident Trump sich zutiefst für Ihren Erfolg einsetzt, denn Ihr Erfolg ist unser Erfolg."* ("I can tell you with confidence that President Trump is deeply committed to your success, because your success is our success.") The election will determine whether Orbán, Europe’s longest-serving leader, extends his 20-year tenure amid growing opposition momentum. Observers from the OSCE are expected to monitor the vote. No official agenda has been released for Vance’s talks with Orbán, which will be their first meeting since the US vice president took office. The trip precedes Hungary’s election by nine days.