It was quite the moment for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán when he was called the “strongest leader in Europe” by Donald Trump during the 2024 US presidential debate. Surprisingly, it’s not the first time Orbán has been complimented by Trump so publicly, emerging as an unlikely hero for him and his supporters.
You wouldn’t think the Prime Minister of a Central European country 4,000 miles away and with roughly the same population as the state of New Jersey would be the unsung hero for the President of the United States, but his 15-year rule over Hungary is admired, even envied.
Attacks on Opposition Media
Public image is everything, and Trump has faced his fair share of media criticism in light of ongoing legal proceedings. Catchy phrases and aggressive media statements haven’t seemed to work so well against so-called ‘fake news’, instead turning to costly lawsuits against media outlets refusing to align with his politics.
These attacks on opposition media mirror strategies employed in Hungary where Viktor Orbán’s government and his allies have long controlled the state media bodies and regulatory councils. What’s more, financial entitlements are withheld from independent publishers, pushing them out of public announcements and funnelling resources into pro-government ‘influencers’.
Vilified Outsider
The threat of outsiders, usually embodied as immigrants, has proven successful for accessing key segments of the voter base for both leaders. They’re masters of scare tactics when it comes to immigration, portraying themselves as the last ‘defenders of Christian values’ with promises to build walls or gates at the border as protection against the feared outsider.
Trump has surely been keeping an eye on Orbán’s defiant stances towards immigrants, taking notice of how well it has served his political longevity and when these rhetorics are accepted, its purpose is served: keep those shouting the loudest in charge and forget about the rights for others who don’t look like us. Trump likes the look of a second presidential term that continues to push this proven agenda seeing only more of a shift towards Orbán-style anti-migrant populism, a dangerous turn for the already vilified immigrant in America.
Ring of the Rich
Trump is first and foremost a businessman, second a politician. Orbán might claim the same, having established a network of wealthy elites who have been essential for the financial backing of his political success. In return, these business figures are expected to be rewarded, as we’ve seen when the biggest tech minds lined up front row at Trump’s inauguration.
Trump’s political fundraising efforts are expected to pay back those who have provided substantial contributions. Yet, rich as they are, many of these influential figures would prefer key appointments or influence over policy decisions, rather than just more money.
Similarly, data collected on public procurement in Hungary reveal that a substantial portion of public contracts are awarded to businesses closely tied to Orbán’s inner circle. It’s the influence and power their collaborators want and this can only be seen as a fair payment for their financial and political support for their authoritative politics, can it not?
| Company / Owner | Total Contracts Won (2018–2020) (HUF Billion) | Net Revenue (2021) (HUF Billion) | Profit After Tax (2021) (HUF Billion) | Political Connections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duna Aszfalt Ltd. (László Szíjj) | 626.5 | 252.1 | 20.4 | Linked to Orbán’s close circles |
| Mészáros & Mészáros Ltd. (Lőrinc Mészáros) | 171.7 | 58.0 | 4.9 | Orbán’s childhood friend |
| ZÁÉV Ltd. (Szíjj & Mészáros) | 158.7 | 80.7 | 12.3 | Linked to major state projects |
| B+N Referencia Ltd. | 201.8 | 122.9 | 18.6 | Close to government, key contracts |
| Gyula Balásy (Owner) | 254.2 | – | – | Government-linked media contracts |
Trump’s admiration for Orbán isn’t just rhetorical, by embracing the Hungarian leader’s playbook, he signals a willingness to erode democratic safeguards in pursuit of unchecked power. And Orbán’s 15 year of rule is the perfect playbook for his Presidential return, a useful starting point to resume his a shift in American politics towards a populist voter state on which Trump hopes he can rely on to carry on his strongman style of politics. It’s something that Orbán has mastered for so many years in Hungary and now Trump wants a piece. The question isn’t whether Trump wants Orbán-like control; it’s whether America will let him have it.