Trump to host far-right and anti-immigrant Hungarian leader Viktor Orban

Donald Trump will host Hungary’s nationalist prime minister Viktor Orban next week, the White House has announced.

The meeting is likely to prove controversial, as Hungary‘s far-right leader has regularly clashed with the EU over his anti-immigrant rhetoric and judicial reforms.

He was also at odds with former US president Barack Obama’s administration over what critics described as an erosion of democratic values by his government.

The two leaders will discuss trade, energy and national security when they meet on 13 May, the White House said.

Earlier this week, Hungary’s foreign minister said the meeting would allow the two leaders to coordinate their anti-migrant positions into a global alliance.

In July 2016, Mr Orban became the first head of government in the EU to endorse Mr Trump in the US election campaign.

Mr Orban has become a key figure among Europe’s nationalist and far-right parties.

He built a razor wire fence at Hungary’s southern border to stop refugees travelling from Serbia and Croatia during the peak of the refugee crisis.

Mr Trump has also sought to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border and has taken a harsh stance on immigration.

Both leaders have spoken of immigrants as an “invasion”.

“Africa wants to kick down our door, and Brussels is not defending us,” Mr Orban said in 2018. “Europe is under invasion already, and they are watching with their hands in the air.”

Mr Trump has also spoken about an “invasion” at his country’s southern border.

On Sunday, Hungary’s foreign minister said the meeting would enable Mr Trump and Mr Orban to coordinate their anti-migrant positions.

Peter Szijjarto told Hungarian state radio on Sunday an anti-migration alliance was being formed and highlighted the fact Hungary and the US were among a handful of countries that voted against the United Nations’ migration pact last year.

Last November, Mr Trump’s former White House strategist Steve Bannon said he planned to work with Mr Orban in the run-up to the European Parliament elections.

He suggested Hungary would make an ideal home for his right-wing populist group “The Movement”.