New York: US President Donald Trump has lavished praise on Hungary's far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orban during a visit to the White House, saying the controversial leader is doing a "tremendous job".

US President Donald Trump, left, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the White House. Credit:Bloomberg

Trump's two immediate predecessors, Barack Obama and George W Bush, both declined to meet with Orban in Washington because of his increasingly authoritarian tendencies.

Orban has overseen the re-writing of Hungary's constitution to strengthen his control over parliament and an extensive re-design of the country's electoral map to favour his conservative Fidesz party. He has also weakened the country's independent judiciary and its free press, drawing criticism from human rights groups.

He has also advocated restricting immigration to ensure Hungary remains a racially and culturally homogenous society.