American conservatives show support for Hungary’s authoritarian leader during Budapest conference

The Conservative Political Action Conference’s third annual gathering in Hungary has drawn attention from Republicans in the US, who are embracing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s authoritarian government as a potential model for a second Trump term. The event, held in Budapest, featured GOP dignitaries endorsing Orbán’s policies on immigration, LGBTQ rights, and the fight against “woke ideology.”

Orbán, in his opening speech at the conference, endorsed former President Donald Trump’s reelection bid and called for a battle to “make America great again” and “make Europe great again.” Trump, in a pre-recorded video message, praised Orbán as “a great man” and hailed Hungary as a leader in the fight to rescue Western civilization.

The close relationship between Orbán and Trump allies has led to a growing interest in Hungary’s conservative policies among American conservatives. Orbán’s government has centralized power, cracked down on civil society protections, and promoted a Christian nationalist view of society, drawing praise from some Republicans who see his approach as a successful conservative governing agenda.

Critics of Orbán’s regime warn that Hungary’s erosion of democratic rights should serve as a warning sign, not a model to emulate. Despite concerns about the government’s authoritarian tendencies, some American conservatives at the conference focused more on the perceived success of Budapest, with one attendee marveling at the apparent absence of homelessness and crime in the city.

As the American right increasingly looks to Hungary for inspiration, the embrace of Orbán’s policies raises questions about the future direction of conservative politics in the US. With ties between Hungarian and American conservative groups growing stronger, the influence of Orbán’s government on the Republican Party’s agenda is likely to continue to be a topic of debate.