Trump cites Hungary's Orbn as example of foreign solidarity during debate

Former President Donald Trump made room during his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris to express the mutual admiration he shares with Viktor Orbn, the autocratic leader of Hungary who has cosied up with Russia and China and became a thorn in the side of his allies.

They call him a strongman. He's a tough person, smart, Trump said of Orbn in response to Harris' assertion that world leaders are laughing at the former president.

Look, Viktor Orbn said it. He said, The most respected, the most feared person is Donald Trump. We had no problems when Trump was president,' Trump said.

Why is Orbn popular with conservatives?

Orbn, a right-wing populist and the European Union's longest-serving leader, has become an icon to some US conservatives for championing what he calls illiberal democracy, which includes some of the EU's harshest restrictions on immigration and LGBTQ+ rights.

He has also cracked down on the press and judiciary in the formerly Communist Central European country an