US Vice President  J.D. Vance is planning a trip to Hungary in the coming days, according to a Reuters report citing two sources familiar with preparations for the trip on March 18. Vance is expected to signal support for Prime Minister Viktor Orban on behalf of the Trump administration ahead of the April 12 elections.

The trip would follow Marco Rubio's trip to Budapest in February. The US Secretary of State openly endorsed Viktor Orban and avoided confronting his host on sensitive issues, such as Hungary’s engagement with China or its reluctance to reduce its dependency on Russian energy.

According to Nepszava, the visit would reflect Washington’s continued political alignment with Orban, who has long maintained close ties with US President Donald Trump. The US president gave his endorsement in February, calling his ally "a truly strong and powerful leader" in a Truth Social post. Orban was the first European leader to support the then-Republican candidate in 2016.

The government has lobbied behind the scenes to arrange a visit by Trump to boost Fidesz's election campaign after Trump called off the planned US-Russian peace talks last autumn, which were to take place in Budapest.

Orban, in an interview, said the US president "perhaps owes a gesture" by visiting Hungary to greet the Hungarian people, and that "such a visit would be a reasonable expectation if it fits into his schedule". 

Some analysts called this undiplomatic and even counterproductive. Leftist Nepszava notes that a visit by Trump now appears very unlikely, making J. D. Vance the most senior US official to come to Budapest instead. However, even this scenario remains uncertain, as the Middle East crisis could overtake these plans. The White House has not commented on the reported visit, Nepszava added. 

The visit would coincide with CPAC Hungary, scheduled for March 21 in Budapest. The Hungarian capital will host the event for the fifth time, which organisers describe as an "anti-globalist" global jamboree, bringing together Eurosceptic, right-wing and conservative figures.

"With it comes a new world. We were Trump before Trump, after all, and at CPAC Hungary, the key phrase: 'No migration! No gender! No war!' was first spoken," the event's website says.

Organisers have yet to release an official agenda or details on media accreditation, and Vance does not currently appear on the list of speakers.

Organisers have confirmed the attendance of former Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki, Czech premier Andrej Babis, Vlaams Belang party leader Tom Van Grieken, and US Republican representative Russ Fulcher.