Less than three hours after the polls closed, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban conceded that he had lost. Addressing his supporters, he congratulated "the victorious party," adding that he would now "serve the Hungarian nation and our homeland from opposition."
Steve Bannon once called Orban "Trump before Trump." It was meant to be high praise for both men. Yet, Orban’s concession is something Donald Trump has never done — and something he never will do.
Trump’s track record speaks for itself. Five years after he lost the 2020 election, Trump still falsely claims that he won. Unlike Orban, Trump never congratulated Joe Biden. He never placed his country or party over his personal interests.
Most importantly, Trump made clear that he had no interest in being a part of a loyal opposition. To the contrary, he has built his entire political movement on rejecting the results of elections he loses.
There are lessons to be learned from Hungary. The need for an organized opposition, the importance of an independent pro-democracy media ecosystem, the limits of foreign interference in the face of a determined electorate.
But there are also key differences that suggest our elections are likely to be much messier.
Orban's power rested on an authoritarian foundation built over 16 years in power. While Trump aspires to be a dictator, his political base was forged in the aftermath of the 2020 election. Its core tenet is not a policy such as immigration, crime or tariffs. Rather, it is...
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