Donald Trump welcomes Viktor Orbán at his Bedminster, NJ estate on 2 August 2022.

Opportunities for U.S.–Hungary Relations in the Next Trump Administration

‘For conservatives of both nations, a Trump victory in November would be highly significant. For Hungary, strengthening political and business relations with a key ally gives the country even greater leverage with its European counterparts and cements the Orbán government as the cornerstone for European relations with the United States for at least the next four years. For the United States, having not just an ally, but a friendly government in Europe with similar geopolitical aims that can act as a conduit to Russia and China will be exceedingly important for geopolitical and economic objectives.’

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico attended the Visegrád Group Heads of Government Summit in Prague on 27 February 2024.

The Visegrád Group Is Alive — Takeaways from the V4 Summit

While it is evident that the parties do not share the same perspective on the Ukrainian question, this difference of opinions could be overcome by concentrating on common interests in other areas. Although embarking on this path requires compromises and the harmonization of interests, with no particular policy proposal in that regard adopted at this time, the summit had symbolic significance, sending the message that the V4 alliance is still relevant.

Italian deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini (3rdR) stands on stage with German co-leader of Alternative for Germany (AfD) Tino Chrupalla (2ndR), member of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPOe) Harald Vilimsky (4thR), Head of Czech Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) Tomio Okamura (5thR) and the head of Bulgarian party Revival, Kostadin Kostadinov at the end of a convention of the EP leaders of the ID on 3 December 2023 at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence.

Populism, Conservatism and Europe’s Electoral Politics: The Post-Covid Dilemmas of the European Right

‘2023 in fact demonstrated, if demonstration were needed, that a deep social, political, and ideological cleavage now divides electorates across Europe, separating progressive, educated, urban, middle class and younger voters from the alienated rural, working class and older conservative voters living outside the fashionable urban centres. This cleavage was dramatically evident in election results in Spain, Slovakia, Poland, and Holland in the course of 2023.’

Troup Hemenway

Troup Hemenway: ‘Trump would give back to the Americans what the Democrats took away’

‘The public mood has been turbulent since 2021. From a campaign perspective, it’s astonishing the current administration is actually trying to prosecute the main political rival of the sitting president. They’re doing that while also implementing policies that have resulted in hundreds of thousands of people flooding over the border illegally each month and doubling or tripling the cost of food and fuel. People see and feel all of this, and they’re frustrated. As a result, they’re going to vote for change and I expect Conservatives will see success in 2024,’ Troup Hemenway, Heritage Foundation senior consultant and one of the leaders of Project 2025 Troup Hemenway opines.