‘Dictators love other dictators’: Trump slammed for calling Viktor Orban ‘a great leader in Europe'

MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE: On the third anniversary of his departure from the White House, the former President of the United States, Donald Trump, addressed his ardent supporters, attempting to unite them against the remaining Republican presidential contenders ahead of the New Hampshire primary on January 23.

During the course of his address on Saturday, January 20, Trump also made mention of Viktor Orban, Hungary’s right-wing prime minister, by sharing his recent positive comments about himself, according to CNN.

What did Trump say about Viktor Orban in Saturday’s speech?

Trump said of the head of state of Hungary, “There's a great man, a great leader in Europe. Viktor Orban. He's the prime minister of Hungary. He's a very great leader, very strong man. Some people don't like him because he's too strong. It's nice to have a strong man running your country.”

Previously, Trump had spoken about Orban in a campaign speech in New Hampshire last year when he appeared to have confused the leaders of Turkey and Hungary in a hilarious slip-up.

“There’s a man, Viktor Orbán, did anyone ever hear of him?” Trump said at the time, referring to the Hungarian prime minister.

“He’s probably, like, one of the strongest leaders anywhere in the world. He’s the leader of Turkey,” the former president wrongly stated.

Turkey’s president is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who previously served as the prime minister of the southeast European country from 2003 to 2014 and has since been serving as the country’s 12th president.

Trump made comments about the Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán, stating that he has a "front" with Russia.

It is worth noting that neither Turkey nor Hungary shares a border with Russia.

Trump had previously expressed admiration for Orbán, who is known for his opposition to migration and LGBTQ rights.

The Hungarian Prime Minister's governing style has been described as an "illiberal democracy" by Trump.

In 2019, Trump invited Orbán to the White House, where they held a meeting, per a report by Politico.

In turn, Orbán was the first European leader to endorse Trump's presidential campaign in 2016.

When Trump was facing criminal charges, Orbán urged him to "keep fighting".

Orbán said in a meeting of the US Conservative Political Action Coalition last year, “Come back, Mr President. Make America great again and bring us peace.”

Internet disses Donald Trump's closeness to authoritarian leaders like Orbán

People on X criticized the former President for invoking and often showering praise upon leaders around the world with dictatorial inclinations.

One X user remarked: "It’s insecurity at its finest - He knows he doesn’t have the courage so he fantasizes through others."

Another user quipped: "Someone should ask Trump to point on the globe where Viktor Orban is prime minister."

Another user wrote: "Trump logic: dictator = strongman strongman = good."

One user said: "When is Trump going to give Adolf Hitler his props? You know it’s coming."

Another X user remarked: "He’s really radicalizing his followers on the “benefits” of dictators."

Finally, this user tweeted: "Dictators love other dictators."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.