The Transatlantic Right's Mutual Appreciation Society
Donald Trump has once again thrown his weight behind Hungary's Viktor Orbán, praising him for being a “strong leader” and endorsing his re-election bid. This follows in the footsteps of the 2022 Hungarian elections, where Orbán’s Fidesz party received substantial support from American conservative media figures and organizations, often bankrolled by a familiar network of donors whose interests
align with disrupting established democratic norms. This isn't merely a platonic relationship. Orbán's connections run deep within the American far-right, particularly through figures like Tucker Carlson, who broadcast from Hungary and celebrated its policies, and the American Conservative Union, which hosted Orbán at CPAC in 2022. That same year, Orbán's government bought a significant stake in
Euronews, a pan-European news channel, for an undisclosed sum, extending his media influence far beyond Budapest's borders, making him less a democratically elected leader and more a media mogul in power. The common thread? Disrupting EU cohesion, challenging NATO unity, and promoting a brand of 'cultural conservatism' that champions ethno-nationalism and restrictive immigration policies,
attracting an estimated $20 million from American donors to 'conservative causes' in Europe. Why do American conservatives find Hungary so appealing? Because Orbán’s model, which has systematically dismantled judicial independence and media pluralism, provides a potential blueprint for consolidating power while maintaining a veneer of democratic legitimacy – something many American right-wing