Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called Steve Bannon, who served as an adviser to former President Donald Trump, a “true American patriot” after he was sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of Congress.
Bannon on Friday was sentenced to serve prison time and fined $6,500 for refusing to comply with a subpoena issued by the House select committee investigating January 6, 2021, which saw a mob of Trump supporters violently riot at the U.S. Capitol in a failed effort to pressure Congress to block President Joe Biden‘s Electoral College victory.
A jury convicted him on charges for refusing to testify with the committee and for refusing to provide them with requested documents. He was subpoenaed last September, with the committee seeking his testimony about Trump’s teams alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
After the sentencing, much of the right-wing rallied behind Bannon, accusing the House panel of unfairly targeting him. Orbán, a popular figure for many American conservatives, also weighed in on the sentencing in a tweet on Sunday—blasting Bannon’s legal woes as part of a “witch hunt.”
“Politics can get ugly,” Orbán tweeted. “I am sorry to see the political witch-hunt against a true American patriot, and a good friend, Steve Bannon. Keep on fighting, Steve! The truth will prevail!”
Politics can get ugly. I am sorry to see the political witch-hunt against a true American patriot, and a good friend, Steve Bannon. Keep on fighting, Steve! The truth will prevail! https://t.co/ge1QehZqfQ
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) October 23, 2022
Bannon then thanked the Hungarian leader for his support in a Gettr post, and called Orbán “a warrior.”
Orbán Builds Popularity Abroad Despite Concerns of Authoritarianism
Although Orbán has risen in popularity among some American right-wingers, he has faced global scrutiny for autocratic tendencies including attacks on freedom of the press, LGBTQ+ rights and immigration. Meanwhile, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) raised concerns about the Hungarian leader stifling political opposition in his country after his 2018 reelection.
Bannon has previously been an ally of Orbán, and pledged to work with him ahead of the 2019 European parliament elections, according to Reuters. Bannon founded a group called The Movement, which has supported far-right governments in Europe.
Orbán’s popularity among U.S. conservatives was on display when he was prominently featured as a speaker at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Texas. He received resounding applause for speaking on social issues that motivate conservatives at home and abroad.
“We were the first ones in Europe who said no to illegal migration and stopped the invasion of illegal migrants,” Orbán said during his speech. “We believe that illegal migration is necessary to protect our nation. To stop illegal migration, we actually built that wall.”
He has also received support from Trump, who in January praised him as a “strong leader” who “truly loves his country.”
Newsweek reached out to Bannon for comment.
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