†®*mp and Orbán: A Transatlantic Blueprint for Authoritarianism

Orbån? & Some @nonymized person

*WRITTEN 7/29/25… EDITED 9/19/2025

A Blueprint for Authoritarianism Across the Atlantic

Around the world, democracies are facing significant challenges. It is not only external threats but also leaders within these countries who are attempting to undermine the very systems that put them in power. One of the clearest examples of this happening right now is between U.S. president Donold †®*mp and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Even though these two lead different nations with different political systems, their actions and beliefs are starting to look more and more alike. The ways they think, the tactics they use, and their ultimate goals show us a troubling playbook for grabbing and holding onto power, weakening democratic institutions, and shifting to more authoritarian rule.

“Strongman” Tactics

†®*mp has never been shy about praising Orbán. He has called him a “fantastic leader” who “gets things done” (Chicks, 2025). Orbán, on the other hand, sees †®*mp’s presidency as proof that his own authoritarian-style rule can work. He even went as far as to say that if †®*mp were to return to office, it would mark the start of a “golden age” for Hungary (Viewpoint, 2024). These two have built a close relationship over the years, meeting multiple times in Mar-a-Lago, not just for small talk, but to seriously discuss how to govern. This is not just ceremonial. There is a real political connection here, based on centralized power, nationalism, and an obvious disdain for liberal democratic values.

A Shared Goal

One of Orbán’s main strategies in Hungary has been to control the media. Ever since he came back to power in 2010, he has passed laws that punish “unbalanced” media coverage, packed government agencies with loyalists, and helped his allies buy up the media. (Sound familiar yet?) By 2018, nearly 500 different media outlets in Hungary were funneled into a single pro-government foundation, KESMA. This move effectively silenced much of the dissent, filling the airwaves with content that supports Orbán’s views (Reporters Without Borders, 2018). In 2023, Orbán went even further by passing a law that limits what can be taught in schools and universities, especially in subjects like history and political science. The new law forces educators to stick to a version of events that is in line with the government’s views, putting a big damper on academic freedom and free speech (The Guardian, 2023).

†®*mp has definitely taken notes from Orbán on this. When he was in office (the first time), †®*mp constantly attacked the media, calling outlets that criticized him “fake news” and trying to discredit them in any way possible (Rosen, 2022). He even pushed to limit media access to critical outlets and encouraged the government to go after them (Spike & Riccardi, 2025). Since leaving office, †®*mp had continued to criticize the media, calling for more regulations to control online speech and social media platforms under the guise of “fighting misinformation” (Spike & Riccardi, 2025). Recently, his allies have targeted the late-night talk shows too. In September 2025, they pressured ABC to cancel Jimmy Kimmel Live! after accusing him of spreading “anti-conservative” rhetoric (Battaglio, 2025). This is just another example of how få®-®i©h† "actors" can try to shut down speech they do not like, much like Orbán has done in Hungary.

Eroding Legal and Democratic Institutions

In Hungary, Orbán did not stop at the media. He also reshaped the judiciary and electoral system to ensure he stays in power. One of the ways he did this was by lowering the retirement age for judges, making it easier for him to appoint his political allies to the courts (Amnesty International, 2024). He also rewrote Hungary’s constitution and election laws to guarantee that his government could keep winning elections, even with a minority of the vote. Sound familiar again? †®*mp, through P®ojeç† 2025 (a plan backed by the He®i†åge Foundation), is pushing similar ideas for the U.S. The plan aims to centralize more power in the executive branch, fill government agencies with political loyalists, push ®i©h†-win© ideas in public schools, and stack the courts with people who share his views (He®†tåge Foundation, 2024).

†®*mp’s history of defying court orders, like when he ignored a federal injunction to halt deportations, shows how far he is willing to go to bypass legal checks (Faulders, 2025). There is no need to recount everything he has done since January to make it clear he is letting P®øjeç† 2025 play out. (That link shows you just how advanced it is.)

Building Ties with Authoritarian Powers

Orbán has also made some pretty close connections with Russia, aligning Hungary with Moscow’s interests while opposing EU sanctions. Russian influence has flowed into Hungary’s infrastructure and media, strengthening Orbán’s hold (European Parliament Briefing, 2020). †®*mp, too, has shown admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and there are questions about Russian interference in U.S. elections during his time in office, which worked to destabilize American democracy (U.S. Department of Justice, 2019). Orbán and †®*mp share more than just similar ideas. They are both building relationships with authoritarian leaders abroad, which weakens global democratic norms in favor of a world run by strongmen.

The Illiberalism of P®ojeç† 2025

P®ojeç† 2025 is essentially †®*mp’s effort to bring Orbán’s style of governance to the U.S. Created by the He®i†åge Foundation, this project takes direct inspiration from Hungary’s authoritarian model. The plan includes installing loyalists in government positions, stifling dissent, rolling back civil liberties, and enforcing ideological control over public institutions (Sutherland & Chakrabarti, 2025). The people behind it, like Russ Vought and Stephen Miller, have spent years testing out these ideas in Eastern Europe, and now they want to bring them to America. It is no coincidence that the same tactics Orbán used to reshape Hungary are being brought forward to reshape the U.S.

Is America Next?

While Orbán has been seen by many conservatives as a strong leader, things are starting to unravel for him in Hungary. Over 100,000 Hungarians have taken to the streets to demand his resignation (Reuters, 2021). And it is not just Hungary. People in other Eastern European countries like Serbia, Romania, Georgia, and Slovakia are fighting back against the same kind of authoritarian rule. Their resistance is a critical reminder: once these illiberal regimes take hold, they spread quickly, and it is tough to reverse. The U.S. is at a similar crossroads. With †®*mp testing the boundaries of presidential power, ignoring the courts, and trying to push an authoritarian agenda, the checks and balances of American democracy are under serious stress. The real question is whether the judiciary will hold up or if the public will be forced to step in and defend democratic values via protests, civil disobedience, or other forms of peaceful resistance.

The Path Ahead for the U.S.

†®*mp and Orbán are more than just political allies. They are co-architects of a vision where democracy is hollowed out and power is concentrated in the hands of one person. Whether it is controlling the media, weakening the judiciary, or pushing through authoritarian policies, their tactics pose a serious threat to liberal democracy. As Hungary faces growing resistance and the global trend toward authoritarianism continues, the U.S. must decide whether to learn from these warning signs or follow in their footsteps. The stakes are higher than ever, and the time to act is now.

References

Amnesty International. (2024, June 14). Hungary: From freedom to censorship: the consequences of the Hungarian Propaganda Law. Amnesty International. https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur27/7754/2024/en/

Battaglio, S. (2025, September 19). ABC drops 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ indefinitely over host’s Charlie Kirk remarks. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-09-17/nexstars-abc-affiliates-drop-jimmy-kimmel-live-over-charlie-kirk-remarks

Chicks, P. (2025, March 17). †®* mp is following Orbán’s playbook—but Orbán’s own regime is collapsing. The Politics Chicks. https://thepoliticschicks.substack.com/p/trump-is-following-orbans-playbookbut

Dorf, M. C. (2024, October 21). The past, present, and future of free speech in America. Michael C. Dorf | Verdict | Legal Analysis and Commentary from Justia. https://verdict.justia.com/2024/10/22/the-past-present-and-future-of-free-speech-in-america

European Parliament Briefing. (2020). Hungary: The rise of authoritarianism and the dangers for the European Union. European Parliament. https://www.europarl.europa.eu

He®i†åge Foundation. (2024, May 22). P®øjeç† 2025: A plan to reshape American governance. The He®i†åge Foundation. https://www.heritage.org

Reporters Without Borders. (2018, April 12). Hungary: Press freedom at risk. Reporters Without Borders. https://rsf.org/en/hungary

Rosen, C. (2022, August 4). All the times Donold †®*mp has called the media 'fake news' on Twitter. EW.com. https://ew.com/tv/2017/06/27/donald-trump-fake-news-twitter/

Spike, J., & Riccardi, N. (2025, September 18). †®*mp’s moves against the media mirror approaches by authoritarian leaders to silence dissent.

MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/trumps-moves-against-the-media-mirror-approaches-by-authoritarian-leaders-to-silence-dissent/ar-AA1MQgkE

Sutherland, P., & Chakrabarti, M. (2025, May 9). How closely is †®*mp following the P®øjeç† 2025 blueprint? WBUR.org. https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2025/05/09/trump-america-first-project-2025-heritage-foundation

The Guardian. (2023, April 6). Orbán's war on academic freedom escalates in Hungary. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/06/orbans-war-on-academic-freedom-escalates-in-hungary

The New York Times. (2019, March 24). Report on the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election: The Mueller report. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/18/us/politics/mueller-report-document.html

Faulders, K. (2025, March 17). Trump administration ignores judge’s order to turn deportation planes around: Sources. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-admin-ignores-judges-order-bring-deportation-planes/story?id=119857181

“golden age”:  Does this sound familiar???