5 GOP senators question Hungary’s ties to Russia

Five Republican senators issued a joint statement Friday questioning Hungary’s ties to Russia, as the nation tightens relations with China and its war on Ukraine nears the three-year mark.

“Our delegation and many of our congressional colleagues are increasingly concerned by Hungary’s deepening and expanding relationship with Russia and the continued erosion of its democratic institutions,” the senators wrote, according to the statement, shared on social platform X by U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman.

“Hungary also continues to disregard the concerns raised by its allies and partners about deepening its ties with China,” the statement continues. “It is in our shared interest for our countries to work closely together. We urge Hungary to listen to the concerns of its allies and to act on them.” 

The GOP delegation, led by Sen. Jerry Moran (Kan.), visited Hungary on Thursday and Friday and also included Sens. John Boozman (Ark.), Susan Collins (Maine), John Cornyn (Texas) and John Hoeven (N.D.). The trip comes as former President Trump, the GOP nominee for the White House, has expressed support for Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán.  

During the Sept. 10 presidential debate against Vice President Harris, Trump complimented Orbán, calling him a “strongman.” The Hungarian leader is popular among American conservatives for pushing a self-proclaimed “illiberal democracy” that includes strong restrictions on immigration and LGBTQ policies.  

Trump and other GOP leaders have diverged on support for Orbán, with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) recognizing Hungary’s “alarming trend” in the Russian relations sphere.  

Orbán has previously expressed his support for Trump, calling him a “man of peace” earlier this year.

Trump hosted Orbán at his Mar-a-Lago home after the NATO summit in July, where the Hungarian authoritarian said the two men discussed “peace mission 5.0” regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine.