Analysis by Summer Lane | Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday, providing a small taste of what a prospective Trump administration would be like in 2025: an administration based on diplomacy, negotiation, and peace through strength.
For those who are familiar with PM Orban’s admiration of Trump’s peace-centered policies, Friday’s executive meeting between the two world leaders perhaps came as no surprise.
Recapping his visit to Mar-a-Lago, Orban wrote, “President @realDonaldTrump was a president of peace. He commanded respect in the world, and created the conditions for peace. During his presidency there was peace in the Middle East and peace in Ukraine. We need him back more than ever! Thank you for the invitation, Mr. President!”
Videos shared online by Orban showed President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosting Orban at their home, Mar-a-Lago, with a lavish dinner, reception, and live music. Mrs. Trump was resplendent in a beautiful white pantsuit with sharp black heels.
In one video, Prime Minister Orban is seen presenting her with a robust bouquet of flowers.
The meeting in Florida between President Trump, who is the presumptive Republican presidential primary nominee, and Orban, seemed to signal a loud and definitive end to the GOP primary season.
With the Republican primary field firmly conquered, Trump has turned his attention toward the White House, and in doing so, he is beginning to focus his attention on matters of diplomacy in a way that Joe Biden is unable and unwilling to do.
On Truth Social, Trump stated that it was an “honor” having Prime Minister Orban and his daughter, Flora, at Mar-a-Lago. He wrote, “Viktor is a Great Leader, respected all over the World. Hungary is a Safe Country because of his Strong Immigration Policies, and as long as he is in charge, it always will be!”
Per NBC News, it is “highly unusual for a visiting head of state to travel to the U.S. and meet with a political opponent of the president without also meeting top officials at the White House.”
Indeed, Prime Minister Orban’s visit to Mar-a-Lago is another demonstration of the global respect that other world leaders have for President Trump – and a reminder that they do not have that same respect for Joe Biden.