October 7, 1998, more than 20 years ago. That was the last time Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orban was in the Oval Office. After that, other U.S. presidents have shunned Orban as he went from young centrist to a far-right strongman. But in Trump, Orban might have found a friend. “Viktor Orban has done a tremendous job in so many different ways. Highly respected, respected all over Europe. Probably like me, a little bit controversial, but that’s O.K.” Orban was the first foreign leader to endorse Trump’s candidacy for the presidency. And the two see eye-to-eye on other issues, from limiting immigration to promoting national sovereignty. Orban is one of Europe’s most prominent right-wing nationalists. Here’s why. Orban is vehemently against immigration, and has pushed back against the European Union on resettling refugees. After he returned to power in 2010, Orban’s party won enough votes to rewrite the Constitution. His critics say these laws cemented political control over the judiciary, central bank, religious groups and the media. It’s estimated that 90% of all media in Hungary is controlled by Orban’s party. Last year, hundreds of private news outlets went under a central holding company run by people close to Orban. Now, much of the country’s media functions as a propaganda machine. This shift devastated the independent media scene in the country. So why was he invited to the White House? Trump administration officials argued that engagement was a better approach than estrangement.