Donald Trump has risked igniting a new war of words with the European Union after pouring praise onto Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The comments from the US President come ahead of Hungary’s parliamentary election on Sunday, which is shaping up to be the biggest challenge to Orban during his 16 years in charge of government.

The US President wrote on Truth Social: “My Administration stands ready to use the full Economic Might of the United States to strengthen Hungary’s Economy, as we have done for our Great Allies in the past, if Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the Hungarian People ever need it. We are excited to invest in the future Prosperity that will be generated by Orbán’s continued Leadership!”

JD Vance, who recently visited Hungary, openly supported Viktor Orban, the country’s PM for the last 16 years. Vance said he was in Hungary “to help him in this campaign cycle”.

Vance also said the EU interfered in elections and the EU, through The European Commission’s spokespeople, expressed its concerns. EU’s foreign spokesperson Anitta Hipper said: “We have also our diplomatic channels and we will be using these also to convey our concerns to our US counterparts.”

The commission’s deputy chief spokesperson Arianna Podestà added: “We have appropriate channels, appropriate frameworks, diplomatic contacts, [and] the joint statement. That is a framework in which we discuss matters of relevance with our partners. And that is where we will be bringing the discussions with the United States if they consider it something worthwhile pursuing with us.”

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán, who has been in office for 16 years, is standing in this Sunday’s elections against Péter Magyar. The both took part in major rallies in Hungary today (April 10).

According to the latest opinion polls Magyar is ahead and his Tisza party could end Orban’s government, which has been close to both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

After talks with Orban, a strong Eurosceptic, Vance attacked the European Union and Ukraine, the BBC reported. He accused the EU of “one of the worst examples of foreign election interference that I have ever seen or ever even read about… because they hate this guy”.

He also added that “part of the reason” for his visit was because “interference that’s come from the bureaucracy in Brussels has been truly disgraceful,” the BBC also said.