Trump vows US 'economic might' to help Hungary if Orban wins

President Donald Trump on Friday offered to put "the full economic might" of the United States into helping Hungary -- if voters back his ally Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Sunday's election.

"We are excited to invest in the future prosperity that will be generated by Orban's continued leadership," Trump said on social media as nationalist Orban, in power for 16 years, faces an uphill battle to defeat his pro-EU challenger Peter Magyar.

Magyar has alleged US interference in the election, with Vice President JD Vance visiting the country this week to underline Washington's support of Orban.

Vance in turn accused Brussels of election interference.

Orban, a close ally to both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, has led the nation of 9.5 million people since 2010.

During his tenure, his ruling coalition has used its two-thirds majority in parliament to overhaul the central European country's electoral system and leverage state resources to campaign, while his business allies radically changed the media environment.

Polls by independent institutes predict a sweeping victory for the Tisza party led by conservative Magyar.