Trump calls Hungary’s Orbán 'leader of Turkey'

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has confused Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán with Turkish President Erdoğan, and called the former “the leader of Turkey.”

Tuesday October 24 2023 01:24 pm

This file photo shows Turkish President Erdoğan (L) and Hungarian PM Orbán (R)

Duvar English

Former United States President Donald Trump on Oct. 23 appeared to confuse Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

“(Orbán) is probably, like, one of the strongest leaders anywhere in the world. He’s the leader of Turkey,” Trump said during a campaign speech for the upcoming presidential election in New Hampshire.

Trump: I was very honored, there’s a man, Viktor Orbán. He’s the leader of Turkey pic.twitter.com/h3vrIESVrF
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 23, 2023

Orbán has a “front” with Russia, Trump added according to reporting from Politico.

Throughout his time in office, Trump has called Erdoğan a “great ally,” a “strong man” and said he’s a “big fan” of him.

However, the White House levied tariffs and upped political pressure on the Erdoğan government, following the detention of Andrew Brunson, an evangelical pastor from North Carolina.

Brunson was arrested in Turkey in 2016 on espionage and terrorism charges for an alleged connection to the failed coup against Erdoğan.

After increasing tension, he was released from custody in 2018 and immediately returned to the United States.