US vice-president JD Vance has said he is “sad Orbán lost” after Viktor Orbán’s defeat in Hungary’s weekend election, while also stressing that the United States will work with the country’s new government.
The remarks were Vance’s first public comments since Orbán’s loss. They come after his pre-election visit to Hungary, a trip he defended while also using the occasion to deliver fresh criticism of the European Union.
Orbán’s defeat marks a major political shift in Budapest after years of rule by the Hungarian leader, who had long been one of the most prominent figures in Europe’s nationalist right. Vance’s comments suggest the Trump administration will seek to maintain relations with Hungary regardless of the change in leadership.
US reaction after the vote
Vance’s response was notable both for its personal tone and for its attempt to balance sympathy for Orbán with a practical message about the future relationship between Washington and Budapest. By saying he was sorry to see Orbán lose, he signalled support for the outgoing leader. But by adding that the US would work with the new Hungarian government, he indicated continuity in American policy.
The vice-president’s comments also renewed attention on his earlier visit to Hungary, which took place before the vote. During that trip, Vance offered criticism of the EU, adding to the sense that the administration was seeking to align itself with leaders who have often clashed with Brussels over migration, sovereignty and rule-of-law disputes.
Orbán’s election defeat is being watched closely across Europe because of his role as a leading critic of the EU mainstream and his government’s position on issues including Ukraine and Russia. The result is likely to have implications for Hungary’s place within the bloc and for its relations with Washington and Moscow.
Kremlin response
Separate reactions from the Kremlin also added another layer of interest to the Hungarian vote. Moscow has been following developments in Budapest closely, and the election outcome has prompted fresh comments from Russian officials.
Those remarks have drawn attention because Orbán’s government has often taken a more cautious line on Russia than many other EU states. As a result, any change in government could affect the tone of Hungary’s foreign policy and its role in European debates about Ukraine and relations with Moscow.
For now, the key message from Washington is that the United States intends to work with whichever administration emerges in Budapest. At the same time, Vance’s language shows that Orbán’s loss has not gone unnoticed in the White House.
The election result is still likely to prompt debate in European capitals about the direction Hungary will take next, and about how a new government might reshape the country’s relationship with both the EU and the US.
More updates are expected as the political fallout from the vote continues to unfold.
