BRUSSELS — Europeans would pay less for their energy if only they followed Hungary’s example, U.S. Vice President JD Vance argued during a trip to Budapest on Tuesday.
He’s not wrong — but not for the reasons he might think.
“Viktor Orbán has been the single sound leader in Europe on the question of energy security and independence,” Vance said at a press conference to endorse Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of Sunday’s national election, which the country’s longtime illiberal leader is poised to lose.
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While Vance didn’t spell out what he liked about Hungary’s policy, a fight over Russian fossil fuel imports has been central to Orbán’s reelection campaign and the Trump administration has railed against renewable energy at home and abroad.
