Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said late Wednesday he expects to meet soon with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss a new economic agreement between the two countries.
“There is a date, and the negotiating agenda is around 80% [ready],” Orban told the Hungarian news site Mandiner. “When we can agree with the Americans on the remaining 20%, we will decide together with the Americans when to announce the meeting, and then it will happen.”
The nationalist leader and long-time Trump ally said Budapest wants to include the reinstatement of a tax treaty aimed at preventing double taxation, along with other investment-related issues. The United States terminated its tax treaty with Hungary in 2022, with the decision taking effect in January 2023.
Orban, who once described his hopes for a “golden era” in U.S.-Hungary relations under Trump, has sought to strengthen economic cooperation despite past trade frictions. Tariffs imposed on the European Union during Trump’s first term hit Hungary’s car-dependent economy, but Orban has maintained that closer ties with Washington could yield long-term benefits. Although the two leaders have not held a bilateral meeting since Trump returned to the White House, Orban has repeatedly expressed interest in forging an economic pact.
The Hungarian prime minister, who faces a national election in 2026, has cultivated a close personal rapport with Trump, whose hardline stance on immigration mirrors his own.During last week’s Egypt summit, Trump publicly praised Orban, calling him “fantastic… and great leader”.
@europeandemocrats At the Sharm El Sheikh summit, Donald Trump called Viktor Orbán a friend, claimed he’s already won the elections, and said America supports him “100%”. Let’s be clear: these aren’t words of diplomacy—they’re words of dangerous admiration between would-be autocrats. Orbán has dismantled Hungary’s democratic institutions and hollowed out its economy. When a former U.S. President openly endorses authoritarianism in Europe, it’s not just outrageous—it’s alarming. Leaders in democratic countries must choose their words carefully. They shape the future far beyond their borders. At EDP, we stand with Hungarians who still believe in democracy, rule of law and European values. Not with those trying to destroy them. #orban #trump ♬ original sound – European Democrats
Relations between Washington and Budapest, however, have faced persistent strains over Orban’s pro-China policies and Hungary’s continued reliance on Russian crude oil and natural gas.
A recent sign of thawing relations came last month, when the United States fully restored Hungary’s status in its visa waiver program — a move seen in Budapest as a positive step toward rebuilding trust.
