The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is promoting the candidacy of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for the position of United Nations Secretary-General. Washington expects that Russia and China will also support him, making him a joint candidate of three permanent members of the Security Council. This was reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing sources in three countries.
According to the newspaper, the idea originated with American officials. During discussions with their counterparts from Beijing and Moscow, they repeatedly expressed a desire to see “someone like Orbán.” The Chinese and Russian sides agreed with this approach. The United States then approached the Hungarian politician directly and invited him to enter the race.
According to reports, Orbán responded positively to the proposal but is being cautious. He does not want to announce his candidacy until he is confident of winning. He himself has so far declined to comment on the information. There has been no official nomination yet, and neither the United States, Russia, nor China has publicly confirmed support.
A U.S. State Department official described Orbán as the “dream candidate for MAGA conservatives.” Reasons cited include his tough stance against mass migration and liberal NGOs, as well as his conflicts with Hungary’s judiciary and media. During his time in power, Orbán frequently clashed with the EU while strengthening ties with China. Trump supported him in Hungary’s April 2026 elections, and Vice President JD Vance took part in the campaign.
According to the same official’s assessment, Orbán can “easily” count on eight of the 15 votes in the Security Council, and potentially on ten. Recommending a candidate requires at least nine votes and no veto from any of the permanent members (the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France). Sources note that when Washington, Moscow, and Beijing agree in the Security Council, they usually get their way.
The key question is the position of the United Kingdom and France. So far, neither London nor Paris has made an official statement. Some diplomats believe they may not block a candidate backed by a majority and the other three permanent members.
According to sources, Trump and Vance are ready to support Orbán if he decides to run. Any announcement is likely to be postponed until after the U.S. midterm elections on November 3.
The race for the Secretary-General post is taking place against the backdrop of the end of António Guterres’s second term on December 31, 2026. The process is already well advanced: informal straw polls have been held in the Security Council, but there is no clear frontrunner acceptable to all permanent members. Candidates include Rebeca Grynspan (Costa Rica) and others. Orbán is not yet on the official list. Under the informal rotation rule, preference is often given to a representative of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Orbán’s potential candidacy raises questions: critics fear that under him the UN Secretary-General could become a defender of Vladimir Putin and other authoritarian leaders. Supporters in Washington emphasize that he is a politician who knows how to act, not a bureaucrat, and will not be intimidated by the UN apparatus.
The plan is still awaiting a final decision. There has been no formal nomination, and further developments depend on Orbán’s own position and the balance of forces in the Security Council.
