By You know Hungary well, you have been here several times. What can Hungary bring to the United States and vice versa?
While Hungary is only a country of 9.5 million people, PM Orban and the country routinely punch above its weight on the world stage both diplomatically and economically.
I think Hungary can continue to be a shining example for European countries to look to about how to protect borders, say no to illegal immigration, and how to not give in to the woke mobs on gender issues. While the rest of Europe is in turmoil due to their woke policies, Hungary is stable and safe. With the support of the United States, I envision Hungary becoming one of the most influential countries in the EU.
With the Biden administration U.S.–Hungary relations deteriorated. In fact, former Ambassador David Pressman’s role has been very much questioned. How do you assess the situation?
Everyone knows that David Pressman was more of a political activist than a diplomat and that’s why diplomatic relations between Washington and Budapest were at all time lows during the last four years. However, with President Trump back in the White House, the golden age of U.S.–Hungary relations will return and diplomacy will return.
Now, with the return of Donald Trump in the White House, it seems that relations may improve again. What needs to change first?
Yes, relations have already starting improving with senior Hungarian officials meeting with senior American officials, including most recently a meeting between Vice President J.D. Vance and State Secretary (for aiding persecuted Christians and the Hungary Helps Program) Tristan Azbej.
The most important thing in diplomatic relationships is mutual respect and trust. This was missing in action from the American side during Pressman’s tenure in Budapest.
Now that he’s gone, we will have an immediate return to respect-based diplomacy and we will not be telling the Orban government how to govern and the Hungarian people how to live their lives. Respect, respect, respect.
With the arrival of the Trump administration and the DOGE department, we have seen the scandal of the USAID agency, which has funded movements against the Orban government and other conservative movements around the world. Is this something the Democratic Party has always done?
Yes, Democrats in Washington DC and the liberals in Brussels have always used government dollars to fund liberal media and NGOs in countries like Hungary in an effort to undermine the duly-elected Hungarian government.
All of this will come to an end from the American perspective and I hope the EU will do the same.
Finally, it has been rumored in several Hungarian media outlets that you could be the new ambassador to Hungary. Is this true?
I’ve heard the rumors as well. The decision on who becomes the next U.S. Ambassador to Hungary is one that only President Donald J. Trump can make. It would be the honor of a lifetime to serve at the pleasure of President Donald J. Trump and the American people in Budapest.
We will Make U.S.–Hungary relations great once again!
