An absolute majority of Hungarians would prefer Donald Trump’s return to power in the United States rather than another Joe Biden presidency, as per the latest survey by the Hungarian polling firm Real-PR 93. According to the Debrecen-based company, while in November 2023 a relative majority of adult population (47 per cent) preferred former President Donald Trump to win the presidential election, the figure has now reached 51 per cent.
The survey indicates that the percentage of individuals who believe the re-election of Joe Biden would be better for Hungary has remained consistently low, with figures of 22 per cent in November and 23 per cent in February 2024.
The proportions are also comparable among certain to vote voters, with the distinction that Trump achieved a higher result with one percentage point (52 per cent) in this category. The percentage of those favouring Joe Biden’s re-election remained at 25 per cent in February 2024, unchanged from November 2023, suggesting stagnation in his support within this group, as indicated by the survey reviewed by Mandiner.
There is a not surprising divide between the views of pro-government and opposition voters. Among the Fidesz–KDNP base, there is overwhelming support for the former president,
with 78 per cent stating that Hungary would be better off with Trump’s return.
In contrast, 48 per cent of left-wing voters believe that Biden would be more ideal for the country. However, more than a quarter of opposition voters (26 per cent) would also endorse a second Trump presidency for the sake of better Hungary–US relations in the future.
The opinion of the population of Budapest, considered an opposition bastion, diverges from the overall opposition sentiment. 46 per cent of voters in the capital would consider Trump a better president for Hungary, compared to 32 per cent favouring Joe Biden. In contrast, among rural residents, sympathy for Trump is higher, with 53 per cent stating that the former president would be better for Hungary, compared to 20 per cent preferring the current president.
The age distribution reveals that the proportion of Trump supporters increases with age. Among 18–39-year-olds, 47 per cent would welcome the return of the former president, a figure that rises to 49 per cent among middle-aged individuals and peaks at 58 per cent among those aged 60 and over. In contrast, middle-aged people would be most pleased to see Joe Biden in his second presidency (25 per cent), while 18–39-year-olds (21 per cent) and those aged 60 and over (22 per cent) would be less enthusiastic about this prospect.
The survey results clearly indicate that the Hungarian government and the Hungarian electorate hold similar views regarding domestic political processes in the United States.
During Donald Trump’s presidency, Hungarian–US relations were notably stronger compared to the current situation. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has underscored in several recent speeches that Trump’s return would be beneficial not only for Hungary but also for the international community as a whole.
Indeed, a potential Trump presidency would likely bring significant changes to the war in Ukraine, among other things. The former president has repeatedly discussed reassessing the US strategy on Ukraine, suggesting the possibility of providing less unconditional support and pushing for the initiation of peace talks. This stance aligns with the Hungarian government’s position on Ukraine, which has remained consistent since the outbreak of the war, advocating for peace to save innocent lives.
In this regard, it is no coincidence that Viktor Orbán will meet Donald Trump in person in Florida on 8 March. The meeting will certainly address the geopolitical challenges facing the West and explore potential responses to overcome them. Referring clearly to Donald Trump, Viktor Orbán stated on Monday at the opening conference of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry that ‘only a new player, who had no role in the outbreak of this war, can pave a way out.’ He further remarked that the world’s only prospect for a relatively prompt peace settlement hinges upon a political shift in the United States.
A second Trump presidency does not seem unlikely at all. Monday’s US Supreme Court ruling thwarted the efforts of some states to use an anti-insurrection clause in the Constitution to exclude Trump from the elections. Although the ruling specifically applies to Colorado, it effectively overrides similar efforts in other states, thereby giving Trump the green light for the elections.
Moreover, the former president is not only more popular than Joe Biden in the eyes of Hungarian voters. According to a recent poll by The New York Times and Siena College,
Trump would beat the current president by 5 percentage points in a hypothetical rematch.
The poll indicates that 48 per cent of registered voters would choose Trump if the election were held today and his opponent were Joe Biden—this is the most likely scenario, since the Democratic president, like Trump, faces no significant challenger within his party. In contrast, 43 per cent of respondents would vote for Joe Biden in the same scenario. Another interesting finding of the survey is that 65 per cent of respondents believe things are going wrong in the US, compared to 24 per cent who think things are going the right way.
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