JD Vance’s first attempt to call Trump hits voicemail at Viktor Orban rally in Hungary

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY: At a rally in Hungary, Vice President JD Vance attempted to surprise the audience in Budapest on Tuesday, April 7, just days before a key general election that could challenge long-time Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

During his speech, he decided to call President Donald Trump live on stage, joking that it could get awkward if the call didn’t connect.

The first attempt didn’t go as planned and went straight to voicemail, leaving Vance and the crowd momentarily caught off guard. However, on his second try, he was able to get through and successfully connect with Trump.

JD Vance calls Trump live on stage

Vance took the stage in Budapest on Tuesday, April 7, during the “Day of Friendship” event, where he was campaigning in support of Orban. Before beginning his speech, he told the audience he had a surprise planned.

Holding his phone up to the microphone, Vance began by telling the crowd he had a special surprise planned before starting his speech.

He said, "Thank you, please so before I started my remarks I actually had a special guest that asked that I give him a phone call and we'll see, let's hope he actually answers or this is going to be very embarrassing. Alright."

He then tried to call Trump, but the first attempt did not go through. As noted, "(phone call goes to voicemail)". Vance decided to try again and told the audience, "Okay, try one more time. I get a good signal here. It's ringing. It's progress. Hello, Mr President. How are you?"

This time, Trump picked up and responded, "Hi. Hey, JD, could you give me a second? I'm just... Wow, that's some crowd you have their JD. "

Vance then addressed the crowd and said, "Mr President, you are on with about 5,000 Hungarian patriots, and I think they love you even more than they love (Hungarian Prime Minister) Viktor Orban."

Trump replied with praise for Orban, saying, "Well, I can't believe that. I can't believe that because I love Hungary and I love that Viktor. I'll tell you, he's a fantastic man. We've had a tremendous relationship, and he does a job."

"Remember this, he didn't allow people to storm your country and invade your country like other people have, and ruin their countries, frankly. He's kept your country good. He's kept Hungarian people in your country. And he's done a fantastic job. And let me tell you, I like him a lot, but if I didn't think he did a good job, I wouldn't be making a call like this. But boy, that sounds like a big crowd, and that sounds like my kind of people."

JD Vance checks message during press briefing

Later on the same day, Vance spoke at a press briefing with Orban, where the conversation turned to rising tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

The moment came after Trump shared strong warnings on social media, raising concerns about what could happen next. “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

During the briefing, a reporter asked Vance if there were any updates on a possible deal. He replied, “I don’t, unless I have a text message from Steve Witkoff," referring to the administration’s Middle East envoy. As he checked his phone, he noticed a new message and said, “I do have a message from Steve Witkoff,” after briefly looking at it.

He then added, “Wouldn’t you like to know the subject of this message?” before continuing, “But no, uh, I need to read it first before I talk about it. But here’s... What time is it in the United States right now?”