Orban suggests that Trump and Slovakia’s leader were targeted for assassination due to their anti-war views
In May, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, a supporter of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, was shot four times by a lone gunman.
“All these attacks are against anti-war, pro-peace politicians,” Mr. Orban said on July 19.
Mr. Fico survived the assassination attempt in mid-May despite being hit by four bullets.
Former President Trump was also targeted by an assassin’s bullet that grazed his ear at an election rally on July 13.
Both men, like Mr. Orban, have been critical of unreserved military support for Kyiv and have advocated for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
“Pro-war forces are active and organized in trying to silence pro-peace politicians from the political stage,” Mr. Orban remarked without providing evidence for his claims.
He did not name the alleged “pro-war forces” behind the failed assassination attempts.
‘Peace Mission’ Draws Fire
Mr. Orban faces criticism from other EU leaders for his peace efforts with Russia without EU’s approval.
Hungary, which assumed the EU presidency on July 1, embarked on a “peace mission” that took Mr. Orban to Kyiv, Moscow, Beijing, and Florida the next day.
He met with leaders of Ukraine, Russia, and China and, on July 11, visited the United States where he met with former President Trump at his Florida residence.
Former President Trump has pledged to diplomatically resolve the Russia-Ukraine war if re-elected in November.
According to a spokesman for Mr. Orban, both leaders discussed possibilities for peace between the warring nations.
Mr. Trump emphasized the need for peace in a social media post after the meeting and expressed concern over the lives lost in the ongoing war.
Mr. Sullivan asserted that the meeting did not align with the United States’ policy.
‘Absolutely Not True’
Western media outlets reported earlier this week on an alleged plot by Iran to assassinate former President Trump, as per unnamed U.S. officials.
In 2020, during his first term, Mr. Trump ordered a drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad’s international airport.
When asked about the Iranian plot, U.S. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel did not rule it out.
Tehran denied involvement in the recent assassination attempt, expressing its desire to prosecute former President Trump for the killing of Gen. Soleimani in a court of law.
According to the FBI, the 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, who was killed after the assassination attempt on Mr. Trump, was the individual responsible.
Mr. Crooks’ motives remain unclear, and there is currently no evidence linking him to the Iranian government.
The attacker of Mr. Fico, now facing terrorism charges, was a 71-year-old Slovak writer and activist who disagreed with the prime minister’s policies.
He expressed willingness to accompany Mr. Orban on his recent trip to Moscow if his health had permitted.
He highlighted attempts by Trump’s opponents to incite violence due to their inability to remove him through legal means.
A Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, accused the Biden administration of creating a divisive atmosphere that led to the assassination attempt on Mr. Trump.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller refuted Mr. Peskov’s comments, calling them irresponsible and untrue.
Reuters contributed to this report.