Kamala Harris defeated her Republican rival on many fronts in last month’s presidential debate, but one point seemed particularly brutal. “As Vice President of the United States, I have traveled the world and world leaders are mocking Donald Trump,” the Democratic candidate said.
Given a chance to fire back, Trump stuck with a bizarre defense. “Let me tell you about world leaders,” he replied. “Viktor Orbán is one of the most respected people, people call him strong. He is tough. He is smart. Prime Minister of Hungary.”
In other words, the former president wanted to provide evidence that he was not an international laughing stock, and he wanted to show that he was not an international laughing stock, and he wanted to show that he was not an international laughing stock, and he wanted to show that he was not an international laughingstock, and that he wanted to show that he was not an international laughing stock, and that he wanted to show the support he received from Orbán, the Russian-allied leader who has actively chipped away at Hungary’s democracy. It was advertised immediately.
But President Trump’s rhetoric was not surprising. He spent months trusting Mr. Orban, congratulating him publicly, talking privately with Hungarians and even welcoming him to Mar-a-Lago. The more the prime minister’s autocratic takeover of his country generated international outrage, the more Trump expanded his excessive support for the prime minister.
His running mate has made similar comments. As recently as May, for example, J.D. Vance appeared on CBS and said the United States “could learn” from Orbán about targeting universities. (“Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan reminded the Ohio senator that Hungarian strongmen had “taken control of state universities” and placed them under the control of foundations run by their allies. )
But as disturbing as the republican ticket’s support for Mr. Orban is, it would be a mistake to think that the entire party is aligned with the prime minister. The Hill reported over the weekend:
Five Republican senators issued a joint statement Friday questioning Hungary’s ties with Russia, as the country strengthens ties with China and its war with Ukraine reaches its third anniversary. According to a statement shared by U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David on social platform “We are increasingly concerned about erosion.” Pressman.
The five Republican signatories are John Boozman of Arkansas, Susan Collins of Maine, John Cornyn of Texas, John Hoeven of North Dakota, and Jerry Moran of Kansas. .
There is no doubt that the joint statement was well received by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has made extraordinary efforts to separate his party from Orban.
For example, the Kentucky Republican still hopes to salvage what remains of the party’s traditional foreign policy vision, and has denounced Orbán and urged fellow conservatives to reject the far-right strongman. That was a month ago. Mr McConnell pressed the same line in July, reminding his party that Mr Orbán was “fully at home with China and Russia”.
A few weeks ago, Senate Republicans echoed this message, declaring: That’s a worrying trend. And no one can turn a blind eye to that, not least American conservatives who have increasingly formed a cult of personality around Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. ”
A letter last week from five senior Republican senators suggests Mr. McConnell has allies within his party on this issue, but Mr. Trump and Mr. Vance are moving in opposite directions. That’s clear. Indeed, the more President Orbán’s Republican critics denounce Hungarians’ ties to Russia and hostility to democracy, the more doubts arise whether President Trump takes their criticisms as compliments.
Either way, anyone looking for a meaningful split in the Republican Party’s vision for the near future should start here.
