US president said Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, is ‘looking for a dictatorship’ after Orbán met with Trump in Florida

Hungary summoned the US ambassador over comments by the US president, Joe Biden, who said the prime minister, Viktor Orbán, wants a dictatorship.

The Hungarian leader traveled to Florida on Friday for talks with Donald Trump during a visit in which he did not meet with anyone from the Biden administration.

During a campaign event in Philadelphia, Biden referred to his rival’s meeting with the Hungarian politician: “You know who he’s meeting with today down at Mar-a-Lago? Orbán of Hungary, who stated flatly he doesn’t think democracy works, he’s looking for dictatorship.”

Rights groups and European capitals have repeatedly raised concerns that Orbán and his Fidesz party have undermined checks and balances in Hungary. In 2014, Orbán memorably announced that he was building an “illiberal” state.