---
title: "Trump administration weighs Orbán for UN secretary-general"
url: https://moldova1.md/p/88639/trump-administration-weighs-orbán-for-un-secretary-general
published: 2026-10-26T11:20:00Z
language: en
author: "Ana Cebotari"
section: "International"
source: moldova1.md
---

# Trump administration weighs Orbán for UN secretary-general

> The Trump administration has reportedly encouraged former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to seek the UN secretary-general post, with Russia and China potentially backing his candidacy, according to the Wall Street Journal.

![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/91a65291-9156-45d6-9961-a386eb5abddf.jpg)

The Trump administration has reportedly encouraged former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to seek the UN secretary-general post, with Russia and China potentially backing his candidacy, according to the Wall Street Journal.

**US, Russia and China could back joint candidate**

US officials have approached Orbán to gauge his interest in succeeding António Guterres, whose term ends on December 31, 2026. The proposal remains unconfirmed, and Orbán has not announced a candidacy.

According to the Wall Street Journal, preliminary discussions suggest that Russia and China could support the former Hungarian leader. A US State Department official estimated that Orbán could secure eight votes on the 15-member UN Security Council, with support from 10 members potentially within reach.

*“If the United States, Russia and China want the same thing in the UN Security Council, they usually achieve it,”* officials from the US and another country told the newspaper.

**France and UK could block the nomination**

Orbán would need at least nine votes in the Security Council and could not face a veto from any of its five permanent members. France and the United Kingdom could therefore block his nomination even if the other three permanent members supported him.

The reported proposal has not received final approval. Orbán has also indicated, according to sources cited by the newspaper, that he would be reluctant to enter the race without confidence that he could win.

**Trump and Vance could support Orbán**

The former prime minister has maintained close political ties with US President Donald Trump. Vice President JD Vance also campaigned for Orbán before Hungary's April 2026 parliamentary election, which ended his 16-year tenure in power.

A US official reportedly described Orbán as an ideal candidate for conservatives associated with the MAGA movement, short for Make America Great Again. Supporters of the proposal reportedly value his ideological positions and his willingness to challenge established political institutions.

Critics, however, could object to his close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his record of clashes with European Union institutions. These concerns could complicate efforts to secure broader international support.

**UN succession remains undecided**

Guterres is due to leave office on December 31, 2026, after two consecutive five-year terms that began in 2017 and 2022. His successor is scheduled to take office on January 1, 2027.

Orbán has declined to comment on the reported proposal. Until a formal candidacy and the necessary Security Council support are established, his potential appointment remains speculative.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**

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