President Donald Trump met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the White House Monday. (Photo: YouTube/screenshot)
May 13, 2019
President Donald Trump welcomed far-right Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the White House Monday, drawing outrage from progressive quarters.
"By meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban today," said Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), "Donald Trump is giving tacit approval for his racist, misogynist, 'soft fascism.'"
Orban, as the New York Timesreported, "was, in July 2016, the first foreign leader to endorse Mr. Trump's candidacy for the presidency," and is "a doyen of right-wing nationalists on multiple continents."
He's also "rolled back democratic checks on his power, mused about creating a European ethnostate, and erected a razor-wire fence to keep migrants out,"as CNNnoted.
The visit--Orban's first to the White House in over 20 years--is in line with Trump's "preference for meeting with authoritarian leaders over Washington's traditional Western allies," as Agence France-Pressenoted.
\u201cThis afternoon, President Trump welcomed Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary to the Oval Office.\u201d— The White House 45 Archived (@The White House 45 Archived) 1557776307
Sitting next to Orban, Trump said the Hungarian leader "has done a tremendous job in so many different ways" and is "respected all over Europe." Recent polling, however, shows Hungary's image within Europe is tanking.
"Probably, like me, a little bit controversial, but that's okay," said Trump.
Orban, for his part, said, "I would like to express that we are proud to stand together with United States on fighting against illegal migration, on terrorism, and to protect and help Christian communities all around the world."
Among those criticizing the chummy visit was Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). "The job of the President of the United States should be to stand up for democratic values, not embrace leaders who reject them."
\u201cVictor Orban is undermining democracy in Hungary, just as Donald Trump is in the United States. The job of the President of the United States should be to stand up for democratic values, not embrace leaders who reject them. https://t.co/9wWxwrBkOP\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1557765913
A group of Democratic lawmakers last week called on Trump to cancel the visit.
In a letter to the president, led by Reps. Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), co-chair of the Congressional Hungarian Caucus, the lawmakers pointed to Orban's "rollback of democracy in his country," and "anti-Semitic and xenophobic tropes in his political messaging," as well as his suppression of "independent media and academic freedom in an effort to consolidate his increasingly autocratic rule."
Other social media users criticized the visit as well:
\u201cTrump practicing effective talking point messaging with Viktor Orb\u00e1n. Any person who still calls themselves a member of the GOP needs to condemn today's meeting ASAP or they're outing themselves as an enemy of American Jewry.\u201d— Eli Valley (@Eli Valley) 1557774684
\u201cBy meeting w/ Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban today, Donald Trump is giving tacit approval for his racist, misogynist, \u201csoft fascism.\u201d America needs a President who challenges authoritarians, not one who welcomes them to the White House for a how-to.\nhttps://t.co/JZA11Du8OU\u201d— Ed Markey (@Ed Markey) 1557760925
\u201cOrb\u00e1n is an anti-Semitic, racist demagogue and an authoritarian who is systematically destroying the remnants of democracy in Hungary. No wonder Trump likes him.\u201d— Brian Klaas (@Brian Klaas) 1557772946
\u201cToday Trump met with Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, as part of his campaign to embrace authoritarian leaders worldwide. Orban has systematically weakened his country\u2019s democracy, cracked down on free speech and stoked anti-Semitism and racism. https://t.co/WvglxV8iTv\u201d— Ron Wyden (@Ron Wyden) 1557776113
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President Donald Trump welcomed far-right Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the White House Monday, drawing outrage from progressive quarters.
"By meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban today," said Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), "Donald Trump is giving tacit approval for his racist, misogynist, 'soft fascism.'"
Orban, as the New York Timesreported, "was, in July 2016, the first foreign leader to endorse Mr. Trump's candidacy for the presidency," and is "a doyen of right-wing nationalists on multiple continents."
He's also "rolled back democratic checks on his power, mused about creating a European ethnostate, and erected a razor-wire fence to keep migrants out,"as CNNnoted.
The visit--Orban's first to the White House in over 20 years--is in line with Trump's "preference for meeting with authoritarian leaders over Washington's traditional Western allies," as Agence France-Pressenoted.
\u201cThis afternoon, President Trump welcomed Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary to the Oval Office.\u201d— The White House 45 Archived (@The White House 45 Archived) 1557776307
Sitting next to Orban, Trump said the Hungarian leader "has done a tremendous job in so many different ways" and is "respected all over Europe." Recent polling, however, shows Hungary's image within Europe is tanking.
"Probably, like me, a little bit controversial, but that's okay," said Trump.
Orban, for his part, said, "I would like to express that we are proud to stand together with United States on fighting against illegal migration, on terrorism, and to protect and help Christian communities all around the world."
Among those criticizing the chummy visit was Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). "The job of the President of the United States should be to stand up for democratic values, not embrace leaders who reject them."
\u201cVictor Orban is undermining democracy in Hungary, just as Donald Trump is in the United States. The job of the President of the United States should be to stand up for democratic values, not embrace leaders who reject them. https://t.co/9wWxwrBkOP\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1557765913
A group of Democratic lawmakers last week called on Trump to cancel the visit.
In a letter to the president, led by Reps. Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), co-chair of the Congressional Hungarian Caucus, the lawmakers pointed to Orban's "rollback of democracy in his country," and "anti-Semitic and xenophobic tropes in his political messaging," as well as his suppression of "independent media and academic freedom in an effort to consolidate his increasingly autocratic rule."
Other social media users criticized the visit as well:
\u201cTrump practicing effective talking point messaging with Viktor Orb\u00e1n. Any person who still calls themselves a member of the GOP needs to condemn today's meeting ASAP or they're outing themselves as an enemy of American Jewry.\u201d— Eli Valley (@Eli Valley) 1557774684
\u201cBy meeting w/ Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban today, Donald Trump is giving tacit approval for his racist, misogynist, \u201csoft fascism.\u201d America needs a President who challenges authoritarians, not one who welcomes them to the White House for a how-to.\nhttps://t.co/JZA11Du8OU\u201d— Ed Markey (@Ed Markey) 1557760925
\u201cOrb\u00e1n is an anti-Semitic, racist demagogue and an authoritarian who is systematically destroying the remnants of democracy in Hungary. No wonder Trump likes him.\u201d— Brian Klaas (@Brian Klaas) 1557772946
\u201cToday Trump met with Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, as part of his campaign to embrace authoritarian leaders worldwide. Orban has systematically weakened his country\u2019s democracy, cracked down on free speech and stoked anti-Semitism and racism. https://t.co/WvglxV8iTv\u201d— Ron Wyden (@Ron Wyden) 1557776113
President Donald Trump welcomed far-right Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the White House Monday, drawing outrage from progressive quarters.
"By meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban today," said Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), "Donald Trump is giving tacit approval for his racist, misogynist, 'soft fascism.'"
Orban, as the New York Timesreported, "was, in July 2016, the first foreign leader to endorse Mr. Trump's candidacy for the presidency," and is "a doyen of right-wing nationalists on multiple continents."
He's also "rolled back democratic checks on his power, mused about creating a European ethnostate, and erected a razor-wire fence to keep migrants out,"as CNNnoted.
The visit--Orban's first to the White House in over 20 years--is in line with Trump's "preference for meeting with authoritarian leaders over Washington's traditional Western allies," as Agence France-Pressenoted.
\u201cThis afternoon, President Trump welcomed Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary to the Oval Office.\u201d— The White House 45 Archived (@The White House 45 Archived) 1557776307
Sitting next to Orban, Trump said the Hungarian leader "has done a tremendous job in so many different ways" and is "respected all over Europe." Recent polling, however, shows Hungary's image within Europe is tanking.
"Probably, like me, a little bit controversial, but that's okay," said Trump.
Orban, for his part, said, "I would like to express that we are proud to stand together with United States on fighting against illegal migration, on terrorism, and to protect and help Christian communities all around the world."
Among those criticizing the chummy visit was Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). "The job of the President of the United States should be to stand up for democratic values, not embrace leaders who reject them."
\u201cVictor Orban is undermining democracy in Hungary, just as Donald Trump is in the United States. The job of the President of the United States should be to stand up for democratic values, not embrace leaders who reject them. https://t.co/9wWxwrBkOP\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1557765913
A group of Democratic lawmakers last week called on Trump to cancel the visit.
In a letter to the president, led by Reps. Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), co-chair of the Congressional Hungarian Caucus, the lawmakers pointed to Orban's "rollback of democracy in his country," and "anti-Semitic and xenophobic tropes in his political messaging," as well as his suppression of "independent media and academic freedom in an effort to consolidate his increasingly autocratic rule."
Other social media users criticized the visit as well:
\u201cTrump practicing effective talking point messaging with Viktor Orb\u00e1n. Any person who still calls themselves a member of the GOP needs to condemn today's meeting ASAP or they're outing themselves as an enemy of American Jewry.\u201d— Eli Valley (@Eli Valley) 1557774684
\u201cBy meeting w/ Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban today, Donald Trump is giving tacit approval for his racist, misogynist, \u201csoft fascism.\u201d America needs a President who challenges authoritarians, not one who welcomes them to the White House for a how-to.\nhttps://t.co/JZA11Du8OU\u201d— Ed Markey (@Ed Markey) 1557760925
\u201cOrb\u00e1n is an anti-Semitic, racist demagogue and an authoritarian who is systematically destroying the remnants of democracy in Hungary. No wonder Trump likes him.\u201d— Brian Klaas (@Brian Klaas) 1557772946
\u201cToday Trump met with Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, as part of his campaign to embrace authoritarian leaders worldwide. Orban has systematically weakened his country\u2019s democracy, cracked down on free speech and stoked anti-Semitism and racism. https://t.co/WvglxV8iTv\u201d— Ron Wyden (@Ron Wyden) 1557776113
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