Trump could soon lose his best friend in Europe

Key Points:

• Vice President JD Vance visited Budapest to support Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a key figure for the MAGA movement and a symbol of the European far right, ahead of Hungary’s parliamentary elections this weekend.
• Orbán has transformed Hungary into a hub for right-wing ideology in Europe, promoting anti-woke, anti-immigrant, and anti-green policies, and maintaining power through a system described as an "illiberal democracy" or "informational autocracy."
• The opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, holds a significant lead in polls by focusing on domestic issues like corruption and healthcare, challenging Orbán’s long-standing rule.
• Orbán’s ideological infrastructure includes institutions like the Mathias Corvinus Collegium and conservative think tanks, which have attracted support from American conservatives, including figures like Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson.
• A loss for Orbán would have major psychological and political impacts on European nationalist movements and would represent a setback for both Russian and American interests that have backed him, signaling increased European resilience.