Terrified of Democracy: tRump and Putin

tRump has reshaped the global order, and not for the better.

Once, America stood as a trusted ally of Europe, grounded in shared values of democracy, cooperation, and mutual respect. That era is over. Under tRump, the United States has veered off course, abandoning its historic alliances, and embracing hostility, isolation, and autocracy.

tRump has openly declared that the European Union was created to “rip off” America, a stunning rejection of decades of partnership. Now, he has taken another step further, publicly endorsing Viktor Orbán, an authoritarian leader widely condemned for obstructing EU objectives, and dismantling democratic institutions in Hungary.

Make no mistake, tRump’s backing of Orbán is not some quirk of diplomacy. It is exactly the same as Putin’s support for Brexit, a calculated move to divide Europe, weaken democratic norms, and empower those who seek to rule without accountability.

Putin and tRump are not allies in name, but in strategy, in method, and in ambition. Both preside over nations in decline, where citizens face growing economic hardship, and even greater erosion of fundamental rights, freedoms, and democratic voice. To cling to power, both have turned to authoritarianism, silencing dissent, and dismantling democratic safeguards.

Their greatest threat does not come from abroad, it comes from within. It comes from their own people, who look across the Atlantic and see what a successful, democratic, liberal Europe offers—prosperity, liberty, and hope. That contrast terrifies them.

That is why tRump praises Orbán. It is not admiration, it is desperation. He is aligning with those who reflect his own authoritarian ambitions. We must call it what it is, and we must resist it.