During a heated exchange between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris at tonight’s presidential debate, Trump highlighted his strong relationships with world leaders, singling out Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. This came after Harris claimed that international leaders were “laughing” at Trump and questioned his global standing.
“I have traveled the world as vice president of the United States, and world leaders are laughing at Donald Trump,” Harris remarked, adding that military leaders see Trump as a “disgrace.”
Trump quickly defended his reputation, bringing up Orbán as an example of a leader who respected him. “They call him a strong man. He’s a tough person,” Trump said, referring to Orbán, a controversial figure for his hard-right politics and efforts to restrict press freedom and political opposition. Trump quoted Orbán as saying, “the most respected, most feared person is Donald Trump. We had no problems when Trump was president.”
Trump’s praise of Orbán follows a broader pattern of his admiration for authoritarian-leaning leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. This has drawn criticism from Harris and others, particularly as Trump has suggested he would use executive power to enact swift changes, such as securing the U.S. border and bolstering the energy industry, if elected again.
Harris used the debate to position herself as the defender of democracy, referencing Trump’s controversial actions and rhetoric, including his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The debate further highlighted the deep divide between the two candidates on foreign policy and democratic governance.