The U.S. Treasury Department has removed Antal Rogán, Hungary’s Minister of State for the Prime Minister’s Office, from the sanctions list.

Viktor Orbán’s government in Budapest had called the move to put Rogán on the list in the first place mere revenge by the outgoing Democrat administration due to Orbán’s support for Trump. It also pointed specifically at former U.S. Ambassador David Pressman, who was highly critical of the government during his tenure in Budapest. 

Senior Orbán official placed on U.S. sanctions list, described as ‘petty act of revenge’

The case against Rogán had been flimsy, claims Magyar Nemzet, writing that the dossier on which the decision was made about him contained only an article by Politico and an analysis of the same article by Transparency International, partially funded by George Soros’ Open Society Foundations. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó posted the news on X, calling Pressman a “frustrated ambassador.” He also sent a statement to MTI saying that this clearly proves that different winds are blowing in Washington. 

After the Biden admin’s crushing election loss, but before @realDonaldTrump returned to office, Democrats took revenge on Hungary by sanctioning Minister Antal Rogán, pushed by a frustrated ambassador in Budapest. That era is over: @USTreasury just removed him from the list.

— Péter Szijjártó (@FM_Szijjarto) April 15, 2025

Many opposing the Orbán regime have come out with statements. Human Rights First has said, “The U.S. government is turning its back on those in civil society who for years have taken great risks to document appalling levels of corruption in Orbán’s Hungary. Today’s action sets a damaging precedent that will entice every other sanctioned oligarch, kleptocrat, money launderer, and criminal to line up for their turn at relief next.”

In the wake of unwanted tariffs, this is some good news, especially as last week, a spotlight was shone on the lingering charge of corruption against the Hungarian government. The U.S. Trade Representative published its annual report at the end of March, listing barriers to American trade with certain countries. 

FM Szijjártó had come out publicly saying the mention of Hungarian corruption was the result of the former ambassador, David Pressman. However, in response to a request by the Telex news portal, Anna Kelly, deputy White House spokeswoman, said: “We have nothing to add to the administration’s list of tariff and non-tariff barriers, which were prepared by our country’s finest economists to ensure that our trade policy serves America’s interests.” 

There is no word yet on whether this report will also be updated.