David B. Cornstein, the New York jewelry magnate who served as U.S. ambassador to Hungary under President Trump, has died at 87. Known for his decades-long friendship with Trump, Cornstein arrived in Budapest in 2018 at a critical moment when Prime Minister Viktor Orban was consolidating power and deepening ties with Russia.

Cornstein took an unorthodox diplomatic approach, abandoning the Obama administration's hard-line stance on Orban's illiberal governance. He arranged White House meetings between Trump and Orban, welcomed top U.S. officials to Budapest, and at a lavish embassy reception called Orban 'the perfect partner.' The ambassador even flew in singer Paul Anka to perform a personalized version of 'My Way' for the Hungarian leader.

His tenure had mixed results. Cornstein helped negotiate a new Defense Cooperation Agreement that deepened military ties between the two countries. However, he failed to prevent Orban from evicting Central European University, founded by George Soros. State Department officials criticized his approach as unconventional, noting he often skipped briefings and kept staff in the dark about meetings. Cornstein dismissed corruption concerns, comparing Budapest to New York City, and maintained that diplomacy required working with governments rather than opposing them.