Trump backs Orban for UN chief amid Russia and China support
US officials approached the former Hungarian leader, citing potential backing from Moscow and Beijing, as Guterres's term ends soon.
By Bianca Herrera ·
Donald Trump is pushing Viktor Orban, the former Hungarian prime minister, to run for United Nations secretary-general. US officials reportedly approached Orban directly to encourage him to enter the race. Orban expressed interest in the role but has not made a final decision on whether to accept.
Washington believes Russia and China would also support Orban. This alignment could make him a joint candidate backed by all three major powers. Officials from the US and another country stated that when Washington, Moscow, and Beijing agree on a Security Council outcome, they can generally secure that result.
A US State Department official noted that the proposal initially seemed far-fetched. The official estimated that eight of the Security Council's 15 members would easily back Orban. There is a possibility of securing as many as 10 votes. The report did not cite any public commitments from other countries to support the Hungarian leader.
The United Kingdom and France hold veto power on the Security Council. Their response to a candidate backed by a majority of the council and the other three permanent members remains a key question. Neither London nor Paris has taken an official position on the matter yet.
US officials reportedly told their Chinese and Russian counterparts that they wanted someone like Orban. Those counterparts agreed with the assessment. Orban was receptive to the proposal but expressed reservations related to his identity as a nationalist politician. He was reluctant to announce his candidacy unless he was confident he could win. Orban declined to comment on the report.
A State Department official described Orban as the dream candidate for MAGA conservatives. The official cited Orban's opposition to large-scale immigration, liberal nongovernmental organizations, and established centers of power within Hungary's judiciary and media. Trump endorsed Orban during Hungary's April elections, and Vice President JD Vance campaigned on his behalf. Trump and Vance are expected to back Orban in the race if he decides to run. Any potential announcement would be delayed until after the US midterm elections.
Emirati diplomat Lana Nusseibeh is another candidate in the race. She entered the race last week and is reportedly gaining momentum. Nusseibeh is expected to answer questions on Tuesday before a Security Council straw poll scheduled for Wednesday. The informal vote will assess support for various candidates. It remains unclear whether Orban's name will be included in Wednesday's vote. The term of current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ends on December 31.
