Melania Trump was serenaded to the sounds of Roy Orbison’s Pretty Woman on Friday night as she was seen alongside her husband Donald Trump for a formal dinner at Mar-a-Lago as the former president played host to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
The Hungarian leader appeared quite taken by the former first lady as he posted footage of her to Instagram with the caption ‘Pretty Woman’ while also presenting her with a huge bouquet of flowers, much to her surprise.
It was a rare sighting of Melania who sported an all-white pant suite at the glitzy affair. She has barely been seen by her husband’s side during the 2024 election campaign at all.
Orbán posted to his Instagram account footage of him and his staff meeting with Trump and the former president’s staff, then of the prime minister walking through the compound, taking photos of everything from a framed Time Magazine shocasing Trump to a bottle of Trump-branded water.
He could then be seen handing Melania Trump a giant bunch of flowers in what was a carefully orchestrated charm offensive.
Later in the video, Trump praised Orbán to a laughing crowd.
‘He´s a non-controversial figure because he says, “This is the way it’s going to be,” and that’s the end of it. Right?’ Trump said of the Hungarian prime minister. ‘He’s the boss.’
Melania Trump was seen alongside her husband Donald on Friday night for a formal dinner at Mar-a-Lago at which the former president was hosting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán
Melania could be seen in an all-white pant suit as she dutifully followed her husband into the room
On Friday night, both Melania and Donald were given a rapturous reception as they walked into the grand ballroom at the beachfront compound.
The former president reached out to shake the hand of some of his supporters, while his wife walked closely behind him, flashing a smile at one point.
Trump, as the likely Republican presidential nominee has continued his embrace of autocratic leaders who are part of a global pushback against democratic traditions .
Orbán has become an icon to some conservative populists for championing what he calls ‘illiberal democracy,’ replete with restrictions on immigration and LGBTQ+ rights.
He has also cracked down on the press and judiciary in his country and rejigged the country’s political system to keep his party in power while maintaining the closest relationship with Russia among all European Union countries.
In the U.S., Trump´s allies have embraced Orbán´s approach.
On Thursday, as foreign dignitaries milled through Washington, D.C., ahead of President Joe Biden´s State of the Union address, Orbán skipped the White House and instead spoke at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank overseeing the 2025 Project, the effort to create a governing blueprint for Trump’s next term .
‘Supporting families, fighting illegal migration and standing up for the sovereignty of our nations. This is the common ground for cooperation between the conservative forces of Europe and the U.S.,’ Orbán wrote on X, formerly Twitter, after his Heritage appearance.
The couple entered to cheers and applause as they walking through the Mar-a-Lago ballroom
Those gathered took out their phones to snap a picture of the couple. Trump could be seen shaking hands with supporters
Trump’s supporters appeared happy to see the couple walking in together
At one point the former first lady almost appeared to be smiling as she observed the crowd
Former President Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban pose for photos at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida on Friday night
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during their meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida
Trump and Orbán are seen talking during their meeting at Mar-a-Lago on Friday
The meeting between Trump and Orbán comes as the former president has continued to embrace authoritarians of all ideological stripes.
Orbán then flew to Florida, where met Trump late on Friday afternoon a Mar-a-Lago.
Orbán’s approach appeals to Trump’s brand of conservatives, who have abandoned their embrace of limited government and free markets for a system that sides with their own ideology, said Dalibor Rohac, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
‘They want to use the tools of government to reward their friends and punish their opponents, which is what Orbán has done,’ Rohac said.
The meeting also comes as Trump has continued to embrace authoritarians of all ideological stripes.
In the past Trump has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
Orbán´s government has reciprocated, repeatedly praising the former president.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk