Former U.S. President Donald Trump once again aligned himself with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a leader notorious for his anti-LGBTQ stance. During a recent presidential debate with Kamala Harris, Trump openly praised Orbán as a “strong man,” doubling down on earlier endorsements despite the Hungarian leader’s continued erosion of LGBTQ rights.
Trump’s comments came as Harris criticized his international reputation, noting that global leaders are quick to mock him. In response, Trump cited Orbán as a world leader who respects him, ignoring Orbán’s well-documented hostility toward LGBTQ communities. Trump reiterated Orbán’s remarks that “there were no problems” during his presidency.
Orbán, a long-time opponent of LGBTQ rights, has systematically chipped away at the rights of LGBTQ Hungarians. Under his leadership, Hungary has passed laws banning same-sex couples from adopting and enacted a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union exclusively between a man and a woman. In 2021, Hungary introduced a law banning any LGBTQ content from being shown to minors, equating it with propaganda and conflating it with harmful ideologies.
The impact of Orbán’s policies on Hungary’s LGBTQ community has been devastating, with many feeling their civil liberties have been systematically erased. His hardline stance has even drawn criticism from the European Union, which froze funding to Hungary over its refusal to uphold basic human rights standards. Yet, Orbán has remained unapologetic, claiming the country is fighting an “LGBTQ offensive” against its Christian values.
Trump’s continued support for Orbán raises significant concerns for the future of LGBTQ rights in the U.S., especially considering his administration’s track record of rolling back protections for the queer community. By endorsing Orbán, Trump not only signals his own disregard for LGBTQ equality but also emboldens global leaders who seek to marginalize these communities further.
