Donald Trump praises Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at debate: Who is he?
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris battled over Trump's standing among world leaders at the presidential debate, after Harris said world leaders are "laughing" at him.
Following questions over Trump's repeated and unsubstantiated claims that he won the 2020 election, when President Joe Biden won, Harris said some world leaders do not regard them as highly as he claims.
“I'm going to tell you that I have traveled the world as vice president of the United States and world leaders are laughing at Donald Trump,” she said. “I have talked with military leaders, some of whom work with you, and they say you are a disgrace.”
Trump responded by bringing up Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán, who appreciated the Trump administration because it was more favorable, Trump said on the debate stage.
"They call him a strong man. He's a tough person," Trump said of Orbán, a hard-right politician who has drawn controversy for his efforts to limit press freedom and political opposition.
“Viktor Orbán said, he said, ‘the most respected, most feared person is Donald Trump. We had no problems when Trump was president,’” Trump said, calling Biden a “weak, pathetic man.”
Presidential debate fact check: Keeping an eye on claims from Trump, Harris
Trump has promised to be a dictator on 'day one'
Trump has praised authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin of Russia, Xi Jinping of China, and Viktor Orbán.
Harris and others have blasted Trump's pledge to be a dictator on day one of a potential second administration, although the ex-president has said that means he would use executive power to close the border and widen American energy industry.
Harris and Biden have also long tried to cast the former president as a threat to democracy, especially against the backdrop of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capital Riot.
Harris repeatedly positioned herself as the candidate to preserve democracy in the debate.
How to watch the Trump-Harris debate
On Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 9 p.m. EDT, USA TODAY Network will stream The ABC News Presidential Debate Simulcast on the USA TODAY channel, available on most smart televisions and devices.
Contributing: Rebecca Morin, Ella Lee
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump's love for Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán shows in debate
