Anne Applebaum

slowly eliminated many of the checks and balances, many of the institutions of Hungarian democracy, making it impossible for him to lose an election. So he culled the Hungarian civil service by changing labor laws, replacing professional civil servants with members of his party. He changed the nature of the Hungarian courts.

Over a period of time, he captured Hungarian media, both through putting pressure, financial pressure on independent media, empowering oligarchs and people around him, businessmen who were close to him, to buy or take over Hungarian media and then transform their nature. Of course, Hungarian state media, he took over.

Over a period of time, he captured Hungarian media, both through putting pressure, financial pressure on independent media, empowering oligarchs and people around him, businessmen who were close to him, to buy or take over Hungarian media and then transform their nature. Of course, Hungarian state media, he took over.

Over a period of time, he captured Hungarian media, both through putting pressure, financial pressure on independent media, empowering oligarchs and people around him, businessmen who were close to him, to buy or take over Hungarian media and then transform their nature. Of course, Hungarian state media, he took over.

And slowly over time, he also repeatedly changed the Constitution, which enabled him to change the way elections are run. And he continually made small alterations that were designed to make sure he couldn't lose. And this model, the Orban model, is one that has been admired, spoken of positively by many people around Donald Trump. And of course, it has admirers in Europe as well.

And slowly over time, he also repeatedly changed the Constitution, which enabled him to change the way elections are run. And he continually made small alterations that were designed to make sure he couldn't lose. And this model, the Orban model, is one that has been admired, spoken of positively by many people around Donald Trump. And of course, it has admirers in Europe as well.

And slowly over time, he also repeatedly changed the Constitution, which enabled him to change the way elections are run. And he continually made small alterations that were designed to make sure he couldn't lose. And this model, the Orban model, is one that has been admired, spoken of positively by many people around Donald Trump. And of course, it has admirers in Europe as well.

Right now, we have a Slovak government which is seeking to go down a similar road. And we had in the past, between 2015 and 2023, a Polish government that also, again, whose leaders openly admired Orban. They talked about building Budapest and Warsaw and sought really to take a similar path.

Right now, we have a Slovak government which is seeking to go down a similar road. And we had in the past, between 2015 and 2023, a Polish government that also, again, whose leaders openly admired Orban. They talked about building Budapest and Warsaw and sought really to take a similar path.

Right now, we have a Slovak government which is seeking to go down a similar road. And we had in the past, between 2015 and 2023, a Polish government that also, again, whose leaders openly admired Orban. They talked about building Budapest and Warsaw and sought really to take a similar path.

The Trump administration has absolutely taken actions from the Orban playbook. We know, for example, Project 2025, which was a kind of blueprint written by the think tank, the Heritage Foundation, for some of what's happening now for the takeover of institutions of the state. We know that was heavily influenced by Hungarians. We know that Viktor Orban frequently met Trump during the campaign.

The Trump administration has absolutely taken actions from the Orban playbook. We know, for example, Project 2025, which was a kind of blueprint written by the think tank, the Heritage Foundation, for some of what's happening now for the takeover of institutions of the state. We know that was heavily influenced by Hungarians. We know that Viktor Orban frequently met Trump during the campaign.

The Trump administration has absolutely taken actions from the Orban playbook. We know, for example, Project 2025, which was a kind of blueprint written by the think tank, the Heritage Foundation, for some of what's happening now for the takeover of institutions of the state. We know that was heavily influenced by Hungarians. We know that Viktor Orban frequently met Trump during the campaign.

Some of his advisors and ministers have also met with people in the Trump administration around it. Tucker Carlson has extensive long relations with the Hungarian government and has spoken in Budapest. And he's an influential figure in the Trump administration too. So yeah, we know that Hungary is a kind of model for many people.

Some of his advisors and ministers have also met with people in the Trump administration around it. Tucker Carlson has extensive long relations with the Hungarian government and has spoken in Budapest. And he's an influential figure in the Trump administration too. So yeah, we know that Hungary is a kind of model for many people.

Some of his advisors and ministers have also met with people in the Trump administration around it. Tucker Carlson has extensive long relations with the Hungarian government and has spoken in Budapest. And he's an influential figure in the Trump administration too. So yeah, we know that Hungary is a kind of model for many people.

I mean, I would draw your attention to one way in which Hungary is a model. Hungary has also put an enormous amount of pressure on universities, cutting their budgets, forcing them to eliminate certain kinds of programs. I think anything with the word gender in it had to be eliminated.

I mean, I would draw your attention to one way in which Hungary is a model. Hungary has also put an enormous amount of pressure on universities, cutting their budgets, forcing them to eliminate certain kinds of programs. I think anything with the word gender in it had to be eliminated.

I mean, I would draw your attention to one way in which Hungary is a model. Hungary has also put an enormous amount of pressure on universities, cutting their budgets, forcing them to eliminate certain kinds of programs. I think anything with the word gender in it had to be eliminated.

Gender studies or women's studies had to be taken out of Hungarian curriculums if you wanted to have any state money. And right now, many U.S. universities are afraid that that same kind of pressure will be applied on them, too. So you can see that many things that were done in Hungary can and will be imitated in the United States.