Biden criticises Trump’s Mar-a-Lago meeting with Orbán – The Guardian US
US president told supporters Hungary’s premier was looking for dictatorship
Joe Biden has criticised his election rival Donald Trump for meeting Viktor Orbán, saying the Hungarian premier was “looking for dictatorship”.
Orbán travelled to Florida on Friday to meet his “good friend” Trump. Orbán has frequently expressed hope for the Republican’s return to power.
“You know who he’s meeting with today, down in Mar-a-Lago?” Democrat Biden told supporters in a campaign rally that repeatedly criticised Trump.
“Orbán of Hungary, who stated flatly he doesn’t think democracy works and is looking for dictatorship.”
He added: “I see a future where we defend democracy, not diminish it.”
Orbán on Friday posted a Facebook picture of himself and the former US leader outside what appeared to be Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.
“Make America great again, Mr President!” Orbán wrote in English.
He added: “President Trump was a president of peace, he commanded respect in the world, and thus he created the conditions for peace. During his presidency there was peace in the Middle East and peace in Ukraine. And there would be no war today if he were still President of the United States.
“We agreed that there will be peace when there are world leaders who want peace. I am proud that Hungary is one of those countries. We also agreed that there is still much potential in US-Hungarian economic relations.
“Here in America the campaign is in full swing, and indeed is rushing ahead. It is up to Americans to make their own decision, and it is up to us Hungarians to frankly admit that it would be better for the world – and better for Hungary, too – if President Donald Trump were to return to power.”
Footage also showed Trump speaking. “There’s nobody that’s better, smarter or a better leader than Viktor Orbán. He’s fantastic,” Trump said.
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Trump with Orban tonight:
“There’s nobody that’s better, smarter or a better leader than Viktor Orban. He’s fantastic…He’s a non-controversial figure because he says, ‘This is the way it’s going to be,’ and that’s the end of it. Right? He’s the boss. No, he’s a great leader.” pic.twitter.com/8A1bUjm9fF
“He’s a non-controversial figure because he says, ‘This is the way it’s going to be,’ and that’s the end of it. Right? He’s the boss,” he said, to laughter from the audience.
Biden referred to the Orbán meeting immediately after criticising Trump for having encouraged the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, to invade Nato countries that did not pay their financial dues.
Hungary is the only EU member that has maintained close ties with the Kremlin after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Orbán regularly advocates for immediate ceasefire and peace talks, arguing Trump, who has previously expressed admiration for Putin, is best qualified to find a way out of the conflict.
The Hungarian leader angered fellow EU leaders by meeting Putin in September and has previously spoken out against western sanctions on Moscow.