A Glimmer of Hope for Trump-Fatigued Americans
What the Unexpected Defeat of Hungary's Viktor Orbán Means for America (Vol. 6; Issue 22)
Spring, and its wondrous green foliage and vibrant blossoms, brings with it a time for renewal, positive changes, graduations and transitions. It’s a time of new beginnings. But despite the springtime “love is in the air” sensation, many still feel frightened about Trump’s impulsive, bellicose behaviors; many feel hopeless about the future of the world; many feel understandably numb.
Recent world events, particularly the surprising end of Viktor Orbán’s 20-year autocratic rule of Hungary, offer glimpses of springtime light. Orbán has been widely described as an “autocrat” or “strongman*.” He was expected to win the election, in part through disrupting voting processes. Key right-wing figures, including our own Vice President, J.D. Vance, supported him by appearing at pre-election Hungarian rallies. And yet Orbán’s opponent, Peter Magyar, won the election by a landslide.
New York Times editorial author M. Gessen (2026) writes:
The triumph was stunning — unique in our era of democratic backsliding — and it holds clear lessons for the United States.
Gessen offers 12 specific “lessons” from Orbán’s defeat. I’ve included six below that offer an optimistic plan for action to return America to its original democratic roots.
Trump clearly leans towards autocratic leadership. Just the last few weeks reveal him arranging for a deal forever preventing an IRS audit of him or his family (like a monarch), creating a $1.8 billion"Anti-Weaponization Fund" to compensate individuals victimized by prior administrations and continuing the Iranian war without Congressional approval. The Department of Justice is cooling his jets, somewhat, but Trump has managed to castrate Congress and use executive orders to run the country like an autocrat.
Extrapolating on how Hungarian voters overwhelmingly defeated Orbán, Americans can counter their burn-out, their defensive indifference, by:
Creating an extensive organizing network. Prior to his election, Magyar, now Hungary's Prime Minister, mobilized between 30,000 and 40,000 volunteers. His organization had 4,000 volunteers running call centers the last week of Magyar’s campaign.
Making the election personal. Magyar spent months personally visiting towns and villages across the country. Gessen writes, “old-fashioned in-person politics can be a powerful antidote to media fearmongering.” Bálint Magyar (no relation to Peter), who served as Hungary’s Minister of Education, accurately described Orbán’s administration as a fundamentally criminal organization, specifically a Mafia state. Many political scientists see the same phenomena here. You only have to look at the enriching of Trump’s family or the creation of monuments in Trump’s name to see the evidence of this Mafia state. Just this week, Trump appointed Bill Pulte as the Director of National Intelligence. Pulte has no national security experience whatsoever, but he is a big Trump supporter. Just like in the Mafia, loyalty matters above all else.
Utilizing grass-roots organizations with little connection to electoral politics. No Kings rallies, ICE-resistance groups, pro-democratic institutions and the like can make as much of a difference as those focused on winning votes.
Promote values. Even those numbed by the situation may be motivated by the need to stop the corruption and return to the democratic principles on which America was founded. Magyar promoted inclusivity and a return to serving “all Hungarians” in his campaign. Focusing on positive values for all Americans can counteract the numbness from the overwhelming corruption.
Advocate for pluralism. Much of Magyar’s success is attributed to his speaking to the Hungarian people as a whole rather than to any particular party, ethnic group or multi-national corporation. An extension of the prior theme, whoever runs for the post-Trump presidency would be well served by speaking to all Americans, not just MAGA enthusiasts.
Highlight the importance of love. This may sound hokey, but Magyar’s politics are inspirational, an antidote to the cynicism of autocracy. He referred to the Hungarian Parliament building as “the most beautiful building in the world. ” Ágnes Forsthoffer, Hungary’s new Speaker of the National Assembly, used the word “love” four times in her own brief speech. When addressing the post-election victory crowd, Magyar encouraged his countrymen to:
turn toward those compatriots who are disappointed today, who are afraid, or who experience this period as a loss. Do not try to defeat them; do not look down on them. Listen to them and talk to them. Tell them that this country belongs to them, too; that they are needed, just as everyone is needed; and that together, we will rebuild Hungary, because there is no left, there is no right — only Hungarians.
Many of my prior essays have explored the reasons for our growing apathy from the sheer force of Trump’s efforts to overturn American democracy. Of imminent importance are his ever-growing threats to the November general election. Peter Magyar faced the same menacing from an autocrat who had remained in power for two decades. Orbán’s defeat shows the power of the ordinary people to replace an unpopular, abusive regime.
These lessons invite us to awaken from our slumber and return our beloved country to one that represents the interests of the majority, rather than the powerful. Yes, it was sardonic comedy, but Mel Brooks’ (2001) song, Springtime for Hitler, need not be our rallying cry. Instead, and during our time of flowers, greenery and graduations, we can celebrate and consider the possibility of a bright future, perhaps singing instead, Springtime for Regime Change.
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*The phrase, “the last dictator of Europe,” was used to describe Alexander Lukashenko, the authoritarian president of Belarus. However, in retrospect, it could easily have been used to describe Orbán.
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References
Brooks, M. (2001). Springtime for Hitler [Song]. On The Producers: The New Mel Brooks Musical (Original Broadway cast recording) [Album]. Sony Masterwork.
Gessen, M. (2026). This Is The Formula That Defeated Orban. It Would Defeat Trump, Too. New York Times, Published May 29, 2026.