Just days before the Hungarian election, Donald Trump gave his most full-throated endorsement of Viktor Orbán yet in a phone call conducted live on stage with JD Vance in Budapest on Tuesday.

The US vice president, who’s in Hungary to drum up votes for Orbán, rang Trump as soon as he was welcomed onto stage at a rally of Fidesz supporters by the Hungarian prime minister.

“I’m a big fan of Viktor, I’m with him all the way, the United States is with him all the way,” Trump said, heaping praise on the Hungarian prime minister, who’s trailing in the polls behind Péter Magyar’s Tisza party ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary election.

The US president repeatedly praised Orbán’s staunch anti-migration stance, contrasting him favourably with other European leaders – not named – who he suggested bowed to pressure to let in more migrants than Hungary has. “You don’t have … all the problems that so many countries have because they let their countries be invaded,” he said.

“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,” he said.

“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,” Trump said.

Trump’s phone initially sent Vance to voicemail, almost creating an embarrassing moment live on stage.

“I’m sorry, the person you are trying to reach has a voicemail box that has not been set up yet,” a recorded female voice said in response to Vance’s first attempt, prompting him to smile and try again. “It’s ringing, that’s progress,” he said, the crowd on tenterhooks.

When he picked up, Trump didn’t sound ready to speak, asking Vance to “give me a second” before the overwhelming whooping of the Hungarian crowd appeared to change his mind. “I think they love you even more than they love Viktor Orbán,” Vance said.

Trump said the crowd sounded like “my kind of people”.

Trump has already endorsed Orbán to remain in power via social media. “I wish you a lot of luck, I love you all,” said Trump, signing off the phone call.

Vance wasted no time repeating the message. “We’ve got to get Viktor Orbán reelected as prime minister of Hungary, don’t we?” he asked.

(bw)