After ruling Hungary with an iron fist for more than 15 years, its voters have decidedly ousted Viktor Orban's Fidesz Party in favor of Peter Magyar, a one-time ally of Orban who broke with him a couple of years ago.
Most crucially Orban, an ally of both Vladimir Putin and President Trump, conceded defeat. Considering the amount of control Orban had in Hungary and his alliance with both Putin and Trump, this is a remarkable development. If nothing else, it demonstrates that Hungarians can still choose their own destiny and that the will of the people counts for something.
Of course, it is entirely possible that Magyar will prove to be every bit as autocratic as Orban. And who can say Orban, who is only 62 (but looks decades older) won't be returned to power in a few short years as we in America chose to return Trump to power despite his incompetence and corrupt ways.
Nevertheless, I cannot emphasize Orban's concession enough. Because this is the crucial difference between Trump and Orban. Trump will never publicly accept the results of the 2020 election much less acknowledge that Joe Biden was the President of the United States. Indeed, Trump will never accept the result of any election which he does not win. What complicates matters is Trump may very well contest the 2028 presidential election despite the 22nd Amendment. And even if he doesn't run, should we elect a Republican President then Trump will be the defacto President much in the way Putin was when he held the position of "Prime Minister" when Dmitri Medvedev held the title of Russian Federation President.
For many years, the MAGA crowd has held Orban with deep affection. Indeed, Orban was warmly received at CPAC in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Both Vice-President Vance and Secretary of State Rubio gave what amounted to campaign speeches for Orban during this election not to mention Trump's full-throated support on Truth Social.
Given today's results, it is clear their intervention did Orban more harm than good. The Hungarian people simply had enough and Orban could not reject their verdict much less suggest it was fraudulent in any way.
The same cannot be said for Trump who by tomorrow might tell us he didn't know Orban very well. It is inconceivable that Trump would utter the words Orban spoke when he said, “The responsibility and possibility of governing was not given to us.” Such words are not part of Trump's vocabulary, nor would they be a part of any Republican seeking the White House in Trump's stead should he choose not to run. Trump has never let the facts or truth get in the way of what he says or posts on social media. Why would he start now?
Unfortunately, a plurality of the American people has never let the facts and truth get in the way of their support for Trump and probably never will.
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