JD Vance, U.S. Vice President, and Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary, take the stage together at the Day of Unity event held at MTK Sports Park in Budapest, Hungary, on April 7, 2026. [Reuters/Jonathan Ernst]

A crowd in Hungary erupted in cheers on Tuesday when then-President Donald Trump made a surprise call to JD Vance during his speech.

Vance visited Hungary to express his support for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of the Hungarian general election on Sunday. Approximately 5,000 Hungarian audience members applauded as Vance connected a speakerphone call with President Trump during his speech.

"Wow, JD, that's some crowd you have there," Trump said, prompting further applause from the audience.

"Mr. President, I am here with about 5,000 Hungarian patriots, and they seem to like you a lot more than they like President Orbán," Vance replied.

"I can't believe it. I love Hungary, and I really like Prime Minister Orbán. He's a great guy, and we've had a very good relationship. He's a man who gets his job done," Trump said. "Remember, he stopped invaders from attacking Hungary, like other countries have had happen."

In a joint press conference with Orbán, Vance accused the European Union of interfering in Hungary's elections. Orbán is facing a challenge from Péter Magyar, a former key figure in Orbán's ruling Fidesz party, who is threatening his grip on power after 16 years.

"I'm not going to tell the Hungarian people how to vote, but I would encourage them to do the same thing to the bureaucrats in Brussels," Vance stated.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) fined Hungary in June 2024 for failing to comply with refugee regulations and for restricting access to asylum procedures. Hungary has also not complied with the EU's solidarity-based refugee resettlement policy since 2015. 

The Hungarian prime minister has repeatedly argued that allowing immigration, particularly from Muslim-majority countries, would destroy Hungary's Christian cultural identity.

Orbán also mentioned that U.S.-Hungary relations experienced a "golden age" during Trump's presidency, stating that the two leaders found common ground on several key issues, including immigration and gender ideology.

Vance's visit to Hungary was aimed at helping Orbán secure victory, and he praised Orbán's role in defending Western civilization, he added.

By Sung Ku Hong, Chief Reporter, NNP USA / Special Contribution NNP info@newsandpost.com