Orbán's playbook: how hungary's authoritarianism mirrors trump's media war
Viktor Orbán's recent pledge to eradicate “bought journalists” and “fake civil society organisations” isn't merely a rhetorical flourish; it’s a chilling escalation in a sustained assault on independent media, and a strategy increasingly echoed across the Atlantic. The Hungarian prime minister’s approach, documented over his 16-year tenure, provides a disturbing blueprint for a similar erosion of press freedom – one that Donald Trump appears to be actively adopting.
The rise of 'slapps' and dehumanizing language
The V-Dem Institute’s latest report paints a stark picture: media repression is the most common tool in the authoritarian arsenal. In Hungary, Orbán's government has weaponized legal challenges—dubbed “Slapps” (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation)—to financially cripple independent outlets. The sheer cost of defending against these frivolous lawsuits effectively silences many voices. This mirrors a tactic increasingly employed by Trump, who has unleashed a barrage of multi-billion dollar lawsuits against news organizations like ABC News and The New York Times.
Beyond legal maneuvering, both leaders have cultivated a climate of distrust and disdain for journalists. Orbán’s infamous description of independent media as “stink bugs” needing eradication is echoed in Trump’s branding of critical outlets as “the enemy of the people.” The deliberate dehumanization of journalists isn't just inflammatory rhetoric; it's a calculated strategy to delegitimize their reporting and erode public trust.
Regulatory capture and exclusionary tactics
The methods extend beyond direct attacks on journalists. Orbán’s 2010 media law swiftly packed Hungary’s regulatory authority with loyalists, leading to the revocation of Klubrádió’s broadcasting license – a decision later deemed illegal by the EU court. The subsequent merger of over 470 pro-government media outlets into the Central European Press and Media Foundation (Kesma), bypassing competition regulations, solidified Fidesz’s dominance. Trump, through his handpicked chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, is pursuing a similar consolidation of power, approving mergers that critics allege benefit political allies and relaxing broadcast ownership rules.
The principle of exclusion is also a key element. Orbán’s government routinely denies independent journalists access to official events, press conferences, and even parliament. Trump’s administration famously barred the Associated Press from the Oval Office over a dispute about the name of the Gulf of Mexico. These actions, combined with flimsy charges used to detain journalists like Don Lemon, demonstrate a concerted effort to control the flow of information.
A looming threat to us democracy
Hungary’s media environment has plummeted from 23rd to 68th in Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index since 2010, with Fidesz now exerting control over roughly 80% of the media landscape. While the US hasn't reached that level of capture, Trump's actions—the legal assaults, the regulatory maneuvers, the exclusionary tactics—are rapidly converging on the Orbán model. The absence of a comparable regional oversight body in the US leaves the country uniquely vulnerable.
The resilience of independent media in Hungary, sustained by civic trust and innovative funding models, offers a glimmer of hope. But as Hungarians head to the polls, and as Americans grapple with the implications of a leader seemingly emulating authoritarian tactics, the world must keenly observe. The battle for a free press is not confined to Hungary; it’s a global struggle, and the lessons learned in Budapest carry profound implications for democracies everywhere.