United States

Donald Trump greets Hungarian violinist in a letter: ‘May God bless you and your family!’

donald trump zoltán mága hungarian violinist

Former US President Donald J. Trump greeted the Ferenc Liszt Prize-winning and world-renowned Hungarian violinist Zoltán Mága with a personal letter of congratulations on the occasion of his 50th birthday. Last December, at the traditional end-of-year gala of the Republican Club, Mága dazzled the audience with his violin playing, and it seems like Trump has not forgotten him ever since.

Trump congratulated Mága with a handshake last December

zoltán mága hungarian violinist — Photot: Facebook/Mága Zoltán hegedűművész

The artist played at a gala in Manhattan, one of the oldest Republican clubs in the US, last December and wowed Trump with his performance.

“It was a great honour for me that one of the most influential people in the world, the former leader of one of the most powerful and largest countries on earth, thanked me for my performance at the gala evening – almost the first to get up from his table – with a round of applause, and then called me over and congratulated me with a friendly handshake,” the Hungarian violinist told Blikk.

“We also exchanged a few words with the President, who was very direct and good-humoured.

He mentioned that he was campaigning with my name, referring to MAGA, the slogan ‘Make America Great Again’,”

Mága added.

Mága is a well-known Hungarian violinist

According to the Hungarian tabloid, Mága is no stranger to the overseas art world and audiences. His two solo shows on PBS, and his annual US and Canadian tour series receive considerable media attention and a high level of interest from music-loving audiences.

Whether it’s Carnegie Hall in New York, the temple of music, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles or the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, home of the Academy Awards, his concerts are always packed to capacity, with standing ovations and roaring applause for the violin playing of the Hungarian artist.

Trump’s wishes to Mága on his birthday

Trump also remembered the Hungarian violinist’s birthday. On 19 February, in a personally signed letter, he greeted the artist, who he considered to be incredibly talented, on his 50th birthday, recalling their meeting in December as a joyful moment. The former US President wished Zoltán Mága good health and happiness, also on behalf of his wife Melania Trump.

Read Donald Trump’s letter to the Hungarian violinist below:

“Dear Zoltan,

Melania and I join your family and friends in wishing you a wonderful 50th birthday!

It was a pleasure meeting you this past December. You are an incredibly talented violinist!

As you celebrate this special occasion, we pray your year ahead is filled with good health, happiness, and the many blessings of our great country.

Happy Birthday, and may God bless you and your family.

With best wishes,

Donald Trump”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zoltán Mága Official @ (@zoltanmagaofficial)

“The president running for election again in November forwarded his letter to my son’s address in New York, so I received the presidential greeting only recently, in the days before Easter, while I was in America,” the Hungarian violinist told Blikk. He added that his US manager and Donald Trump’s staff are already discussing when and where they can meet during his US tour planned for the second half of the year.

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April 9, 2024

CPAC Hungary to host US Senator, Congressmen, European party leaders

The Budapest meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC Hungary) will be held on April 25-26 this year, and will host a US Senator, two US Congressmen and the leaders of several European parties, the head of the event organiser Alapjogokért Központ said on Friday.

US Senator Mark Wayne Mullin, a former MMA fighter, will attend, Miklós Szánthó said in a Hungarian video on Facebook. US Congressman Andy Harris, “who has been . fighting back the attacks of gender fanatics and the liberal media for 13 years” in the US Congress, and Congressman Keith Self, “a real border warrior”, will also attend, Szánthó said.

Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch Freedom Party (PVV) and Santiago Abascal, the head of Spain’s VOX party are also expected to attend the event, he said.

Hungarian minister: National, European identity ‘indisputable value’

The Hungarian government “is fighting to build a Europe in which belonging to a nation and being European are indisputable values,” the head of the Prime Minister’s Office said in a speech delivered on Thursday at a conference marking the 80th birth anniversary of former Hungarian foreign minister János Martonyi.

Gergely Gulyás, speaking at the event organised by the Habsburg Otto Foundation and the National Public Service University’s John Lukacs Institute, highlighted Martonyi’s “extremely rich career”. He said Martonyi had often reflected on the importance of having a “double identity: one cannot solely be European without also being Hungarian, Polish, French, or Austrian at the same time.”

Martonyi’s thoughts are needed “if we want to build a developing, bourgeois Hungary and a normal Europe,” Gulyás said. Martonyi’s ideas “make us all richer and we will need his experience in the future,” he added.

Read also:

Budapest to host CPAC, conference of the American right again this year, details HERE
Trump’s message to Hungary: Conservatives are ‘in historic battle’ with everyone

April 5, 2024

Government-close media outraged by USA saying Orbán keeps Hungary in Russian gas dependence

Putin Orbán Russian gas disgraceful role

Index, a Hungarian government-close media outlet, is outraged by the Embassy of the United States due to a video they advertise on Facebook. The video focuses on how PM Orbán and his government keep Hungary in Russian gas dependence. Meanwhile, our NATO and EU allies in the region could get rid of Russian gas after Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Index has a special place in the Hungarian media market. The Hungarian government does not visibly control the public media or the TV2 TV channel. But it never publishes articles significantly harming the Hungarian government. For example, they did not write about the presidential clemency scandal resulting in the resignation of the Hungarian president and Fidesz’s no. 1 European parliamentary elections candidate, Judit Varga, until PM Orbán’s announcement days after the outbreak of the scandal. We detailed that sad story in THIS article. And HERE is another article about Péter Magyar, the ex-husband of former Justice Minister Judit Varga, who may launch a new and influential political party for the 9 June elections.

Orbán cabinet keeps Hungary in Russian energy dependence?

Considering all that, it is not surprising that Index now criticised the US Embassy in Budapest because one of their videos slammed the Orbán cabinet.

“FM Szijjártó is in Russia for an energy conference – his seventh trip to Russia since Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine”, they wrote above the video dealing with Hungary’s dependence on Russian gas.

In the video, the US Embassy says the Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria could reduce their dependence to almost 0 by 2023. That comes after Czechia imported 80% of its gas needs from Russia, while that rate was 57% in Poland and 77% in Bulgaria. In the European Union, 49% was the rate of Russian imported gas, but it fell to 14% in 2023.

david pressman us ambassador — US Ambassador David Pressman. Source: US Embassy Budapest

Based on the US Embassy’s video, the Orbán cabinet decided to keep up the country’s dependence on Russian energy. They showed multiple articles published in the Hungarian media about how expensive the Orbán cabinet buys Russian gas. We wrote about that in THIS article. In short, Hungary has already lost hundreds of millions of euros on the Russian gas business.

“Only Hungary’s political leadership decided to keep the country in Russian energy dependence”, the embassy’s video concludes.

Expert suggests the USA would like Hungary to buy American LNG

Index asked the energy and climate department head of the Századvég, a government-close think tank. Olivér Hortay said the European Union acknowledged that separating Hungary from the Russian gas has physical obstacles. Mr Hortay believes the US embassy slammed only that statement. However, because of its advertisement, it reached many people in Hungary. And that is why Index thought they should publish a reaction.

Hortay said it is the right of the Hungarian government to decide which country they purchase energy from. Nobody has the right to interfere in that, Hortay added. The Hungarian government continuously repeats that they want to protect their right to decide freely in different matters (gender, war, migration, etc.), highlighting that Hungary is a sovereign state.

Hortay said Poland signed contracts with American companies to substitute Russian gas. However, that business is more expensive and less environment-friendly. Czechia does the same, but they need German pipes to transmit the gas, so they even pay an extra transport fee.

Hortay said the US Embassy’s campaign serves political and business goals. They would like to convince the Hungarian government to buy American LNG. He added that American gas was more expensive than the Russian.

Orbán and Putin Russian gas — Hungary buys Russian gas. Photo: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

Hungary tries to diversify its gas market

The expert highlighted that not only Hungary kept its Russian supporters, but also Austria. The head of the OMV, for example, said they had a long-term contract with Russia, and until the Russians deliver, they will use Moscow’s gas.

In the case of Bulgaria, experts believe their Russian gas transport to Türkiye is a trick, and this is how they also get Russian fuel.

Hortay added that the Hungarian government tried to reduce its dependence on Russia. That is why they signed contracts with Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Qatar. Furthermore, Hungary makes an effort to increase domestic production. We wrote about MOL’s oil extraction near Budapest Airport in THIS article.

MOL Campus skyscraper Budapest — MOL Campus skyscraper. Photo: facebook.com/molcampus

To conclude, the Századvég expert claims other European countries are using Russian gas, and the Hungarian government also tries to diversify its energy import. Therefore, the US Embassy’s video exerts pressure on the Hungarian government to buy American energy. On the other hand, Hungary lost hundreds of millions of euros in the Russian gas business because the market prices decreased after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Read also:

Russian agents operating in Hungary identified – Read more HERE
Orbán cabinet gets rid of foreign competitors in this skyrocketing economy branch – Details in THIS article

March 31, 2024

Licence plate controversy reveals tense Hungary-US relations

The Hungarian Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office deliberately thwarted efforts to give American soldiers’ US-made cars local licence plates to gain political leverage on the United States government, report claims.

American soldiers stationed in Hungary have not gotten licence plates since 2021

US Ambassador David Pressman sanctions — Photo: FB/US Embassy

In a recent speech at the Central European University, Budapest, the American Ambassador to Hungary, David Pressman, criticised the Fidesz government’s decision not to issue local licence plates to American soldiers serving at the Pápa Air Base in Hungary.

“[F]or more than three years,” Pressman said, “in violation of our Defense Cooperation Agreement, the Hungarian government has not allowed these young soldiers to get licence plates for their family cars, instead forcing them to pay tens of thousands of forints out of their pocket every month for temporary registrations. Not because of bureaucracy or red tape. Because the Hungarian government has made the political decision to do so.”

This issue, the Ambassador highlighted, is a symptom of a larger predicament, and is “indicative of the current, concerning state of Hungary’s relationship with its allies. The problem, he continued, is that Hungarian policymakers treat the United States as an adversary, “saying and doing things that undermine trust and friendship” between the two countries, while also isolating Hungary from its other allies.

PM’s Cabinet Office is the main political actor in the issue

The trouble over the licence plates that Pressman protested, and his argument that there is an underlying conflict between the two states being exacerbated by the Hungarian government, seem to have been true, according to VSqaure.org.

The platform shares in a newsletter that a former official of the Orbán government confirmed the Ambassador’s allegations, saying:

“It’s true, this is a political decision to mess with American soldiers and try to get the US to ask us to resolve the issue, so we can also ask for something in return.”

According to their source, every step of the process of acquiring documentation for the soldiers’ American-made cars – which need special permission to drive on EU roads due to different traffic standards – had been successful. But then, the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office stepped in and halted proceedings in 2021.

The Cabinet Office is headed by Antal Rogán, who is often called the “Propaganda Minister” of the Fidesz government because of his central role in the “increasingly anti-US, pro-Russian Hungarian government propaganda machine, as well as the intelligence services,” as VSquare puts it.

Indeed, for example, under his rule, the Cabinet Office paid – an unknown amount of taxpayer money – to have ads shown on YouTube about the dangers of illegal migration all over Central Europe to push Fidesz’s anti-migration narratives to the forefront of politics in the region, and he was also a crucial player in the recent presidential clemency controversy.

Between 2015 and 2023, the National Communications Office, which is part of the ministry led by Rogán, spent a total of HUF 1,360 billion (EUR 3.40 billion) on communication and event planning, illustrating how important he and his office are for the politics of the Hungarian government.

Apparently, when the instruction came to halt the licence -issuing procedure for the Americans stationed in the country, the state secretary of Rogán emphasised that the instruction was a purely political decision that must not be overwritten.

As for the future of Hungarian-American relations, things do not seem to be on a path of normalisation. As we reported, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called the US Ambassador a “left-wing political activist,” saying that when Pressman criticises Hungary for supposedly undermining trust within NATO, he should not forget how many Americans had been evacuated from Afghanistan by Hungarians.

Read also:

Mfor: Orbán cabinet will squeeze foreign supermarket chains, Spar remains a target – HERE
Hungary continues to strengthen its army, air force – READ HERE

March 25, 2024

Hungarian foreign minister: US Ambassador Pressman is a left-wing political activist

Hungary is interested in the European Union and Moldova forging the closest possible cooperation, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said after meeting his Moldovan counterpart in Budapest on Friday, pledging Hungary’s support for speeding up Moldova’s integration process during its EU presidency in the second half of the year.

At a joint press conference with Mihai Popsoi, Szijjártó said the EU was “ailing”, and “the most effective cure” was to build closer ties with partner countries outside the bloc, the ministry said in a statement.

The foreign minister recalled Hungary’s “difficulties” during its own accession process, and he pledged the government’s help to Molodva in “completing the task”.

Szijjártó noted an agreement signed at the meeting offering training at the Hungarian Academy of Diplomacy in legal harmonisation and the implementation of accession-related reforms to fifty Moldovan public officials.

Szijjártó said each candidate country should be evaluated on the basis of its performance. Hungary’s position is that it is unacceptable if certain countries “become hostage” to those with “a poorer performance” in the integration process, referring to Albania and North Macedonia.

“This is unacceptable for us, and we would like to indicate in advance that we will not support tying Moldova’s integration to that of any other country.”

Hungary supports expanding the EU-Moldova free trade agreement, the liberalisation of their freight transport pact and allocations to Moldova from the European Peace Framework for the development the country’s defence capabilities.

“In addition, if the first inter-governmental committee meeting on Moldova’s EU accession does not take place by June, we will hold it at the start of the Hungarian EU presidency to help speed up the process,” Szijjártó said.

Commenting on bilateral relations, he said trade increased 2.5-fold since 2010.

Hungarian exports were mainly supported by pharmaceuticals and the food industry, he said, adding that OTP had grown to become one of the largest players in the local banking sector, following investments worth several tens of millions of euros.

He welcomed WizzAir connecting Chisinau to several western European cities, and said it was “good news” that Budapest services were restarting from April 2.

Szijjártó noted that forty Moldovan students studied at Hungarians universities with scholarships each year, and the programme seemed to be very popular.

“Hungary is a dedicated supporter of Moldova’s integration process, and the signing of today’s agreements also makes clear that this dedication … is backed by real action,” he said.

In response to a question concerning recent crticisism by Vice President of the European Commission Vera Jourova, he said Jourova “has proven several times in recent years that she suffers from severe Hungaro-phobia, and she simply looks down on Hungarian people”.

“We ask you: the way she talks about supporters of Hungary’s governing party. And we ask you: the way she generally talks about Hungarian people and Hungary,” he said. “Perhaps she finds this unusual, but in Hungary the government has been elected by the people in a democratic way,” Szijjártó said, adding that questioning the democratic character of the political system was a serious insult.

He critisied Jourova for her support of the proposal to abolish the right of veto by member states, adding that this would result in the government not being able to act against EU decisions that severely harmed Hungarian interests.

“Vera Jourova should be ashamed of her performance in recent years, because the European Union is in a worse state than it was when the European Commission entered office, and Vera Jourova has played a large part in that,” Szijjártó said.

Commenting on last week’s remarks by US Ambassador David Pressman, he said they should be assessed “as remarks by a left-wing political activist”. He added that Pressman should remember that when talking about undermining trust within NATO, he should not forget how many of his countrymen had been evacuated from Afghanistan by Hungarians.

Read also:

US-Hungary relations at new low: Dialogue with Hungary not efficient, US will act – Read more HERE
Ambassador Pressman compares the Hungarian government with the Kremlin

March 23, 2024

Putin likes this: PM Orbán says sending Western troops to Ukraine staggering idea

Brussels “is caught up in a spiral of war”, and the main question at the European parliamentary elections will be whether someone has a pro-peace or pro-war stance, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told public radio in an interview on Friday.

War psychosis in Brussels

Previously in European political battles, the main categories were between the right and left, globalists and sovereigntist forces, but recently a new dimension has opened up, and instead of party affiliations, what matters is whether someone is pro-peace or pro-war, Orbán said in the interview held in the Brussels Public Media Centre.

It would be best if Hungary and the other European countries sent as many pro-peace politicians to the EP and as few pro-war politicians as possible, he said.

The future of left-right cooperation, and who would be stronger, were also worth discussing “but what’s most important is stopping the war psychosis”, he added.

“There is a war atmosphere, war rhetoric and the logic of war” in Brussels, he said.

EU leaders talk as if they were fighting their own war against Russia, “unlike us, who, while not indifferent to human tragedy, are not a warring side”, Orbán said.

He said “distance” was needed, and “calm” was missing in Brussels. Brussels, he added, was fighting its own war against Russia on Ukraine’s side.

“They are at war, and they talk about the need to defeat Russia,” the prime minister said, adding that “they are taking on more and more to achieve that goal”.

Proposals to send Western troops

At first, they only talked about sending helmets to Ukraine, then it came to tanks and aircraft, “and now they’re talking about proposals to send western European soldiers to be stationed in Ukrainian territory”, he said, adding that no decision had been made yet about where and for what purpose, but the preparations were under way.

“We must be careful not to get sucked into the war psychosis and lose the ability to pursue the right direction based on Hungarian national interests,” he said.

Orbán said that 2-3 months ago what had been unimaginable had since become a simple everyday event. He noted that whereas once the Germans talked only about sending helmets, they were now discussing giving a missile system to Ukraine that would enable them to reach targets as far as Moscow.

The prime minister said he was a supporter of reasonable disputes but it was now necessary “to put our foot down” and demand ceasefire and peace talks because otherwise “they will suck us in”.

Hungarian left wing getting fed from America, Brussels

He also said that even in Hungary there was no consensus about the issue, because whereas the government maintained a sober and pro-peace attitude, the left wing was pro-war. The “umbilical cord”, the “alimentary canal” of the Hungarian left wing “are in Brussels and in America”, he said. “They are getting fed from there … they pay them from there, and this is why they represent the pro-war position”, he added.

Orbán said he was certain that “Hungary would be deep in the conflict currently spreading between western European countries and Russia” were it not for its national, right-wing government.

He warned that the first world war also started as a local conflict which then expanded.

Meanwhile, Orbán said Brussels was captive to George Soros’s network, and the Soros network was an integral part of European institutions. The Soros network “is so well established” that European institutions finance their operations from it, he added.

He said the European Commission, the European Parliament and “a fair number of prime ministers are clearly backed by Soros”. The Soros network “built up over the last 30 years” hampers the representation of the opinion of Europeans, the prime minister said.

Father and son: George and Alex Soros. Photo: FB/Alexander Soros

Ukrainian grain import

Regarding Ukrainian grain, Orbán said that although Hungary generally supports trade, investment and economic cooperation, it rejects Ukrainian grain imports to Europe as Brussels had set bureaucratic and rigid rules for European farmers while “there are no such regulations in place in Ukraine”, giving the country “a big competitive advantage”.

Hungary, he said, was among 6-7 European countries that produced more food than they consumed, and customers in western Europe were buying cheap Ukrainian grain instead of Hungarian farmers’ produce. “We’re making strenuous efforts to find markets for the Hungarian stocks before the next harvest,” he said, slamming Brussels for “turning a blind eye” to this problem.

protest v4 fidesz rejects eu proposals harming farmers — Farmer protest. MTI/Illyés Tibor

“Brussels is in the heat of war. Ukraine is more important for them than the European farmers,” said Orbán, insisting that Brussels should either ban Ukrainian grain imports or employ the same loose regulations to Hungarian farmers as it applies to Ukraine.

The prime minister said that “although the European Union has been set up with the aim of ensuring peace and wellbeing”, Europe was now pervaded “by war and poor-being”.

PM Orbán: People are basically negative towards Brussels bureaucrats

“People are basically negative towards Brussels bureaucrats. Not towards the European Union, because everybody supports the ideal of cooperation… The problem is with Brussels bureaucrats.”

The prime minster was also asked about his ruling Fidesz party’s plans regarding Budapest after the party’s Budapest chapter named Alexandra Szentkiralyi, a government spokesperson, as their candidate for Budapest mayor in the upcoming municipal election.

Orbán, referring to the leader of the Democratic Coalition, Ferenc Gyurcsány, called for “Gyurcsány’s people” to be frozen out of circles influencing the capital’s administration.

“The people who ruined the country before 2010 are all doing business in the capital, and their politics is the same as during their administration,” he said.

“Those who bankrupted Hungary are now bankrupting the capital,” Orbán said, adding that this was why “the coffers are empty, even though Budapest was once the richest city in Hungary”.

In the municipal elections held in June, hopefully a mayor would be elected who could prevent the capital’s complete bankruptcy, he added.

Orbán said Budapest was important for him and he was keen to address issues important for the city’s residents. “But today there is no more important question for them than whether the Hungarian left can achieve that Brussels takes away part of the high wages given to kindergarten and school teachers.”

Read also:

SHOCKING – Putin’s insider: If Trump wins, Croatia will be divided between Serbia and Hungary – Read more HERE
Orbán’s letter to Putin details Hungarian PM’s thoughts on peace

March 22, 2024

Wall of Hollywood filmmakers with Hungarian roots inaugurated in Budapest – PHOTOS

The wall of nearly 500 Hollywood filmmakers with Hungarian roots was inaugurated in the Origo Film Studio in Budapest on Thursday.

“The revenue of Hungary’s film industry grew ten-fold in 2022, reaching over 200 billion forints (EUR 508m),” Zsófia Nagy-Vargha, the state secretary of the ministry of culture and innovation, said at the event.

“Budapest is the new film capital of central and eastern Europe, offering good infrastructure and highly-trained professionals, and spending by foreign productions has tripled in Hungary since 2019,” she added.

Nagy-Vargha said that Hungary’s film industry was undergoing a renaissance. “Since the success of Son of Saul, we are on a list of 15 countries from where the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film has been won twice,” she added.

She also noted that links with Hungary go back to the beginnings of Hollywood, with two of the five largest Hollywood film studios having been established by Hungarians.

Hollywood Hungarian roots — Photo: FB/Magyar Hollywood Tanács / Hungarian Hollywood Council

Hungarians working in Hollywood come from around fifty places

Head of the Hungarian Hollywood Council Balázs Bokor said that Hungarians working in Hollywood come from around fifty places across Hungary and beyond the borders.

He referred to Adolph Zukor, the Oscar-winning producer, William Fox, the founder of Fox Film Corporation, Al Lichtman, of Universal Studious fame, and Tony Curtis, who will be remembered with a film festival in this year. He also said that just this year, in addition to Zsuzsa Mihalek, the Hungarian winner of the Oscar for Production Design in Poor Things, Robert Downey Jr. who won the best supporting actor Oscar for Oppenheimer, also have Hungarian roots.

The leaders of 25 such localities received brand certificates at the event which was attended by two Oscar-winning Hungarian directors: István Szabó and Ferenc Rófusz.

Read also:

Famous Hollywood movies shot in Hungary – Read more HERE
THESE Hollywood movies were filmed around Lake Balaton

Here are some photos:

March 22, 2024

SHOCKING – Putin’s insider: If Trump wins, Croatia will be divided between Serbia and Hungary

Mikhail Khazin, a seasoned confidant of Vladimir Putin and an analyst at the state-owned Sputnik news agency, has expressed a notable perspective on the future of the European Union. His insights foreshadow an unexpected series of events that could precipitate a significant shift in the borders of European nations.

According to Khazin, the downfall of the EU appears imminent and could be significantly hastened if Donald Trump secures victory in the upcoming US elections. Khazin shared these insights during an interview with the Belarusian news agency Belset with the discussion subsequently published by jutarnji.hr, according to HVG.

Mikhail Hazin posits that a Trump triumph would leave Europe isolated, potentially catalysing the dissolution of the European Union. He envisages a return to a post-1945 scenario, where nations like Hungary may assert territorial claims, such as reclaiming Transylvania and Carpathia. In the interview, Hazin stated the following:

Let us not forget that Viktor Orbán often says that Hungary has always had a sea exit. In order to have one again, Croatia will have to be dismantled. Serbia and Hungary will share it, the moment the European Union is dissolved.

Hazin also predicts potential conflicts, such as Serbia invading Bosnia and Herzegovina, although specific details on these scenarios remain elusive.

As Hazin delves into speculative scenarios like Germany taking Silesia and Gdansk from Poland, his analysis seems to echo back to the pre-World War II era of 1939 rather than representing actual trends in Europe. This narrative reflects an unusual aspect of Putinist media, where analysts like Hazin engage in projections that may not align with current geopolitical realities.

A case in point illustrating this media dynamic is the incident involving the potential scientist Alexander Sityin, whose passion to decode Russian warfare inadvertently unveiled deeper truths about Russia’s expansionist ambitions beyond Ukraine, prompting an abrupt interruption in programming. Such instances underscore the intricate complexities and concealed agendas often interwoven within such media narratives.

Putin’s previous indications of territorial claims

This is not the first instance of Russia attempting to sow discord among its Western allies under the pretext of territorial ambitions. A notable example is when Vladimir Putin hinted at potential territorial claims by Poland, Hungary and Romania against Ukraine, followed by a subtle nod towards Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during an interview with Tucker Carlson.

During the interview, Putin denied ever suggesting to Viktor Orbán that Hungary could reclaim territories from Ukraine that were annexed during Soviet times and previously belonged to Hungary. However, the context and significance of this denial, especially concerning its impact on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, significantly diminish the credibility and significance of Putin’s statement or gesture.

This is not the first instance where Hungary’s territorial claims were discussed. Previously, we reported on a map revealed by Russian Security Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, which depicted Transcarpathia as part of Hungary, causing considerable surprise and concern.

This incident isn’t the first time Hungary’s territorial claims have surfaced. Previously, we reported on a map disclosed by Russian Security Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, which depicted Transcarpathia as part of Hungary, eliciting considerable surprise and concern.

Read also:

France leads the voices raising the threat of world war, says Hungarian FM Szijjártó – HERE
Orbán cabinet: Ukraine cannot win, Western troops’ deployment unacceptable – HERE

March 22, 2024

No veto: EU Peace Facility top-up adopted with Hungarian constructive abstention – UPDATE🔄

EU foreign affairs ministers agreed on Monday to top up the European Peace Facility with 5 billion euros in connection with funding for Ukraine, a decision made with Hungary’s constructive abstention, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said on the sidelines of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

EU Peace Facility

EU member states can abstain from voting on a particular action without blocking it.

The minister said “the price” of Hungary’s agreement not to block the top-up was a change in the rules to exempt Hungary from involvement in financing arms deliveries.

“This means that we have to pay our share of 50 million euros, but we can determine the purpose of its use,” he stated.

He added that several important goals could be discussed in light of this, such as strengthening the stability of the Sahel region to combat migration and support the Western Balkans.

Szijjártó lamented that EU leaders “did not grasp that the EU’s Ukraine strategy has failed.” The cause of that reluctance could be that such recognition could raise the issue of taking responsibility for the damages Europe has incurred.

Referring to statements made earlier in the week concerning the possibility of deploying European troops to Ukraine, Szijjártó appealed to Western European politicians to refrain from such statements, calling them “extremely dangerous and fear-mongering.”

Anthony Blinken

Noting that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also joined part of the meeting via video call, Szijjártó said he had reminded his colleagues of an earlier NATO decision that “everything must be done to avoid direct confrontation with Russia”.

“Western and Eastern European statements that don’t exclude deploying troops … are in clear violation of that joint NATO decision,”

he said, adding that no member had initiated a review of that decision.

He said,

“I expressed my hope to the US secretary of state that NATO will never send troops” to Ukraine.

Increasingly militant statements from the EU or its member states would only make the situation worse, “summoning the specter of a third world war,” he said.

“An EU state sending ground troops to Ukraine would envelope the entire continent in conflagration… We are of the view that this is a grave violation of Article 5, as NATO is a defence alliance,” he said.

Ukrainian grain

As Ukraine’s neighbour, Hungary has experienced the consequences of the war first-hand, he said. “Besides the inflow of refugees, our agriculture was nearly brought to its knees by low-quality Ukrainian grain flooding central Europe,” he said.

As Polish farmers blocked the roads from Ukraine to that country protesting against the grain glut, much of the freight traffic was rerouted to Hungary, increasing waiting times and the workload on the Hungarian-Ukrainian border, he said.

On the border at Fényeslitke, Hungary has set up the largest transfer facility for Ukrainian cargo in international comparison, “only the European liberal mainstream continues to forget” such achievements, he said.

With a view to easing the pressure on the border, Szijjártó noted he had talks with Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, at the weekend, and they agreed to open another border crossing between Nagyhodos in Hungary and Velyka Palad’ (Nagypalád) in Ukraine and to develop the crossing in Beregsurány further.

“If there is a country constantly facing the tragic consequences of the war … and taking on its burderns, and has the greatest interest in swiftly bringing about peace, it is Hungary,” he said.

France leads the voices raising the threat of world war, says Hungarian FM Szijjártó

With the war going on for more than two years in Ukraine, the situation is the most critical yet in Europe, and the “specter of a world war looms ever larger,” the foreign minister said ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.

Péter Szijjártó said on Facebook that the US Secretary of State will also join the meeting through a virtual call.

“Western European leaders must grasp that their strategy regarding the war has failed and they would have achieved a ceasefire long ago had they invested as much into brokering peace as they did into weapon deliveries,” he said.

Meanwhile, he insisted France was leading the voices “stoking the danger of world war”. Sending land troops to Ukraine threatened with regional escalation, and was “diametrically opposed to NATO decisions so far”, he added.

“We don’t want a war in Europe, and we hope our European colleagues will also cease playing with fire,” he said.

As we wrote a few days earlier, in an interview with Le Monde, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Hungary “knows the consequences of occupation by a fascist regime”, but its messages to Ukraine are radical. He also said that the world should have put Putin in his place at the beginning of the war, details HERE.

Also we wrote earlier, the Russian Embassy in Budapest issued a war statement.

March 18, 2024

15 March in Washington: Hungary is committed to the NATO alliance

The March 15 celebrations, marking the 176th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1848-49 revolution and war of independence, ended on Friday with an official commemoration organized for members of the local diaspora at the Hungarian embassy in Washington.

Ambassador Szabolcs Takács noted that traditionally Hungarians living in and around the American capital are invited to celebrate on March 15, and this was also the case this year.

At the ceremony, Emese Latkóczy, the director and one of the founders of the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation, received the Knight’s Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit, for her work.

Previously during the day, local Hungarian organizations held a commemoration at the Kossuth House in Washington, the leaders of the scout troop, the Catholic and Reformed communities, and the Kossuth Foundation laying a wreath at the memorial plaque of Lajos Kossuth. Péter Pál Schmitt, the deputy head of mission, laid a wreath at the Kossuth memorial on behalf of the Hungarian embassy.

Sándor Végh, the president of the foundation that operates the Kossuth House, noted that Lajos Kossuth had visited Washington in December 1851 to gain support for the Hungarian cause.

The Tisza Dance Ensemble, made up of American and Hungarian members, gave a festive show at the Kossuth House.

The March 15 commemorations coincided with another commemoration held a few hundred kilometres from Washington, at the NATO command in Norfolk, where Hungary, Poland and Czechia commemorated the 25th anniversary of their NATO membership.

At this event, Ambassador Takács drew attention to Hungary’s commitment to the NATO alliance, and said Hungary’s budget contribution to NATO serves the purpose of making the organisation a truly defensive alliance with a military force that is a deterrent, but one that is in service of peace.

The March 15 commemorations began on Wednesday in the Capitol building, where Ambassador Takács and Congresswoman Carol Miller laid a wreath at the statue of Lajos Kossuth.

Hungarians living in Washington will hold the commemorative Kossuth run on Sunday, organized by the Kossuth Foundation.

Read also:

Streets and cities preserve the name of Kossuth in US – Read more HERE
500 drones draw over Chain Bridge in Budapest, details and spectacular photos in THIS article

March 17, 2024

VIDEO: Traditional Hungarian folk dance in New York’s iconic places

A world-known Hungarian folk dancer commemorated the 15 March revolution and freedom fight of 1848-1849 with spectacular dance on New York’s iconic places, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Central Park and the Times Square. Find more details and the video below.

István Berecz is one of the leading and most authentic members of the second generation of the Hungarian folk dance movement. He is the art director of the Fonó, a dancer, choreographer, and a member of the Sztalker Group, Fidelio wrote. He won the first series of the popular Fölszállott a páva, a Hungarian talent show running on the public broadcaster.

He said in a 2019 interview that he regards it as his mission to make traditional Hungarian folk dances part of the universal culture of every Hungarian. He would like it to become our common dance and musical mother tongue. In a way, making viral videos in which he dances in New York’s famous places is a way to promote that idea among the new generations.

Enikő Mihalik New York baby — The new generation: Enikő Mihalik and her baby in the Big Apple. Photo: Instagram

He celebrated the 176th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1848 Hungarian revolution with stirring dances in iconic places of New York, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Times Square and the Central Park.

The video was shared on 15 March on the official Facebook page of the Liszt Institute New York. It already has more than 22,000 views.

You may watch it by clicking HERE.

Read also:

Traditional Hungarian folk dance types – VIDEOS
Discover the Hungarian folk dance! – VIDEOS and more in THIS article

March 17, 2024

The White House: “Hungary has engaged in an assault on democratic institutions”

Hungary took centre stage at a recent White House press conference, drawing the attention of journalists seeking insights from Senior National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Despite initial reluctance, Sullivan reiterated the US stance on democracy and corruption, sparking a fiery exchange on Thursday morning with Hungary’s Péter Szijjártó, who accused Sullivan of spreading falsehoods.

Deepening rift between Hungary and the US

As Index writes, tension has been growing between Hungary and the United States, as highlighted by a recent meeting between Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán and former US President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Florida. Joe Biden’s criticism of Trump’s meeting with Orbán only added fuel to the fire:

You know who he’s meeting with today, down in Mar-a-Lago? Orbán of Hungary, who stated flatly he doesn’t think democracy works and is looking for dictatorship.

As we have reported HERE, the Hungarian government summoned the US ambassador over President Joe Biden’s recent remark on PM Viktor Orbán. FM Péter Szijjártó said, “We refuse to tolerate lies, even from the President of the United States.”

Jake Sullivan questioned about Biden’s comment

As Index also notes, during the White House press conference, tension peaked as reporters pressed Sullivan on Biden’s earlier statement. Heinrich asked, “Is it the position of the United States government that Hungary, a NATO Ally, is a dictatorship?” Sullivan was reluctant to answer. However, he stated clearly that the Biden administration has always had ‘deep concerns’ about “democratic institutions, including the judiciary; Hungary’s corruption; and other erosion of democracy in Hungary from the leadership there.”

While Sullivan thought this answer had put an end to the matter, it was not the case. Jacqui Heinrich persisted in asking whether Hungary was deemed a dictatorship. Sullivan advised Heinrich to direct such queries to the campaign. Ultimately, Sullivan concluded the discussion by stating:

As I said before, our position is that Hungary has engaged in an assault on democratic institutions, and that remains a source of grave concern to us. And I take it from your question it may be of grave concern to you as well.

The Hungary issue resurfaced later during questioning by Peter Baker, The New York Times’ White House correspondent. He noted the summoning of the US Pressman by Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and queried whether the president regretted his earlier remarks in light of this development. Additionally, he sought Sullivan’s response to Szijjártó’s accusation of Biden’s dishonesty. Sullivan addressed these queries:

Of course, the President stands firmly behind his statement, and I’m not retracting it. Our position aligns completely with the facts you’ve presented and is well-documented, contrary to any falsehoods.

FM Szijjártó’s response

FM Szijjártó wasted no time in responding to the press conference and Sullivan’s assertions. Taking to Facebook, he wrote: “Jake Sullivan’s remarks underscore the difficulty American Democrats face in acknowledging that amidst Europe’s progressive liberal landscape, Hungary stands firm as an island where we boldly declare: no war, no gender, no migration!” He emphasised their unwavering commitment to peace and family values while rejecting aggressive gender narratives and illegal migration.

Read also:

March 17, 2024

US-Hungary relations at new low: Dialogue with Hungary not efficient, US will act – UPDATED

US Ambassador David Pressman delivered a long speech on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Hungary’s accession to NATO. He underlined multiple times that the United States is for dialogue and cooperation; however, this often doesn’t work with the current Hungarian government. In times like this, he said, the United States acts because that’s all the Orbán cabinet understands. Judging by his speech, it is clear that the two governments have reached a point again where dialogue is no longer enough.

“The United States cares about Hungary, we care about Hungarians, we admire and are in awe of your culture and history, and we want a close relationship. We’re not really asking for much: transparency, dialogue, nonpartisanship, and commitment to democracy would suffice,” David Pressman, US Ambassador to Hungary, said on Thursday in Budapest on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Hungary’s accession to NATO.

25th anniversary of Hungary’s accession to NATO

The venue was symbolic: it was the former CEU building on Nádori Street in Budapest. Pressman reminded the audience that the university had been forced to move its headquarters to Vienna because of measures taken by Viktor Orbán’s government in connection with opening to the East.

In his speech, the Ambassador recalled that the Hungarian Prime Minister interpreted NATO accession as a correction of a historical injustice and stressed the country’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law. Pressman contrasted this with the problematic policy decisions taken by the current Hungarian government, such as its hostile rhetoric towards the United States, its seizure of the media, corruption and its attempts to dismantle the rule of law.

The Ambassador stressed that the United States will continue to seek dialogue with Hungary, but will not accept behaviour that is contrary to democratic values and the principles of NATO. As an example, he cited that they were forced to restrict access to ESTA for Hungarian citizens because the Hungarian government refused to address security concerns raised by the US side, 24.hu writes.

Close ties with Moscow, peace plan based on fantasy

Pressman also pointed out that the United States and its allies are concerned about the Hungarian government’s close ties with Moscow. He remarked that instead of playing a prominent role in supporting Ukraine, the Orbán cabinet is representing Russian interests and creating tensions within NATO. The ambassador also criticised the Hungarian peace plan:

“Does Hungary truly believe that if our partners and allies stop our military support for Ukraine as it fights on its own territory for its very survival, Russia would then come to the negotiating table? Or would Russia do what it has done elsewhere and seize more of their land, pillage more of their property, deprive more of their people of freedom, kidnap more of their children? The Hungarian policy is based on a fantasy that disarming Ukraine will stop Putin. History shows it would do the reverse. It is not a proposal for peace; it is capitulation.”

Accusing others of interfering in internal offers – Hungary does just that

The ambassador also recalled that Hungary regularly accuses Western countries of trying to interfere in its internal affairs, but Pressman said it is the other way around. This is illustrated by the fact that Viktor Orbán recently visited the US, where he did not meet with members of the US government, but did meet with Donald Trump, the challenger to US President Joe Biden. Moreover, Orbán openly supports Trump in the presidential election, while it is up to the American people to decide on the US president, Pressman noted.

Three steps are needed for the future, Pressman underlined. First, the Hungarian government must decide whether it wants to improve its relations with the United States. Second, security concerns must be taken seriously and not used for political ends. Third, the US will continue to be pragmatic in its relations with Hungary, urging that the political mandate for fruitful discussions be in place.

“How we speak about each other matters. There is room to criticize – no government is perfect, including my own. The United States’ great strength has been our readiness to confront our shortcomings and debate them openly. While the Hungarian government’s wild rhetoric in state-controlled media may incite passion, or ignite an electoral base, the choice to issue, on a daily basis, dangerously unhinged anti-American messaging is a policy choice, and it risks changing Hungary’s relationship with America,” Pressman said.

UPDATE: Hungary ‘regards US with great respect’, says official

Hungary regards the United States with great respect and has always done so, Tamas Menczer, the state secretary for bilateral relations, said on Facebook in connection with a speech delivered on Thursday by David Pressman, the US ambassador to Hungary. “But today’s speech was not worthy of an ambassador; it was rather a speech of a left-wing political activist,” Menczer said. Pressman gave a speech in Budapest entitled “On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Hungary’s accession to the NATO Alliance”.

Read also:

March 14, 2024

Hollywood about Hungary: Austin Butler and Christopher Walken praise Budapest

Budapest has stolen the hearts of many world stars and celebrities in the past. Two Dune actors now join the list: Austin Butler and Christopher Walken have bestowed encomiums on the Hungarian capital after shooting the film here.

Both parts of Dune was shot in Budapest

As Player.hu reports, the first real blockbuster of the year, Dune: Part Two, like the first part, was shot in Budapest. A host of new actors have been recruited for the sequel to bolster the already illustrious cast, with Austin Butler joined by the ingenious Christopher Walken as Emperor Shaddam IV, ruler of the universe.

This line-up has already done the Hungarian national image some good, as Butler raved about Hungary at the New York premiere of the second part of Dune.

I was in Hungary for the whole time that I was there. It’s beautiful!

he said to the interviewer talking to him.

He also said that he was dragged out of his hotel room by Florence Pugh, with whom he went on a trip and visited very special places. Check out the video below:

@enews

Hey AustinButler, are you and #FlorencePugh taking applications for another hiking buddy? Dune: Part Two in theaters March 1.

♬ original sound – E! News

After Austin Butler, Christopher Walken, interviewed by Vanity Fair, also praised Hungary. Walken returned to acting after a four-year hiatus. When asked by a reporter why he chose to say yes to the sequel to Dune, the actor replied:

“I had, of course, seen the first Dune a number of times. I loved it, and I admired [Villeneuve’s] movies. Arrival, I thought, was wonderful,” Walken told Vanity Fair.

“And to be with all those terrific actors — Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin, Timothée Chalamet, Florence Pugh, and Stellan Skarsgård — and to go to Budapest, which is a beautiful city. And of course, that’s what I do for a living. It was only, I think, three weeks. So, everything about it was attractive.”

This is definitely great publicity for Budapest. It not only attracts tourists to Budapest, but also enhances the city’s already good international reputation among filmmakers and could attract more productions to the city in the future, Player.hu concludes.

Academy Awards/Oscars Gala 2024: Hungarian awardee

As we reported a few days ago, Hungary’s Zsuzsa Mihalek has won the 2024 Academy Award (Oscars) for Production Design. Mihalek won the acknowledgement for set decoration, along with James Price and Shona Heath for production design, for their work on director Yorgos Lanthimos’s feature Poor Things.

Mihalek had also won the British Film Prize, the BAFTA, for her work on Poor Things, but was not in London to receive the award. She was not there in Los Angeles for the Oscars either. Price and Heath mentioned that they missed “Zsuzsi” not being there.

In eight years, Zsuzsa Mihalek is the fourth Hungarian filmmaker to be honoured by the US Film Academy. In 2016, László Nemes Jeles received the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film for Son of Saul, Kristóf Deák won the Best Live Action Short Film category for With Everyone in 2017, and Zsuzsanna Sipos received the Golden Statue for her work as the director of the first part of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune in 2022.

Read also:

Featured image: depositphotos.com

March 13, 2024

Orbán cabinet: the United States puts constant pressure onto Hungary

Orbán cabinet says the United State puts constant pressure onto Hungary

Reality and an “ideological approach” to politics are “extremely far apart” in international politics today, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told an event in Martonvásár, near Budapest, on Tuesday evening, adding that one example of this was an ongoing effort to “decouple the European and Chinese economies”.

Concerning the war in Ukraine, Szijjártó told a podium discussion that Europe was “suffering from war psychosis”, and some leaders “think they’re playing Fortnite, but this is reality where people are dying there’s massive destruction”.

He said that despite the “inflated liberal expectations”, it was certain that Russia could not be dealt a military defeat in this conflict, given that it is a nuclear power. But Ukraine cannot lose, either, he said, arguing that there would always be a big enough supply of weapons from the West to maintain the status quo.

“If neither side can win, then it’s clear that the whole thing will end with negotiation,” the minister said. “And if no one can win, and negotiations are needed, then the only question left is why not do it tomorrow? Why two weeks from now? Why three months from now? Why a year from now?”

“Each passing day in this war results in more death and destruction,” Szijjártó said, adding that this made the call for an urgent ceasefire and peace talks the only morally acceptable position.

Here is Hungary’s opinion about sending Western troops to Ukraine

He said Europe today was “incapable of creating these conditions”, so an agreement between the United States and Russia was needed. But this, he said, was “also impossible under the current administration in Washington”, adding that it meant that change would be needed in the US’ leadership.

Concerning French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent remarks, Szijjártó warned that sending Western troops to Ukraine would seriously violate the “red line” established by NATO that it was not party to the conflict. “However, given the changes in Europe’s position, this can’t be fully ruled out,” he added.

As regards the conflict in the Middle East, he said the number one objective was to prevent an escalation of the conflict, as this would lead to a regional war.

The United State puts constant pressure onto Hungary

He said a political change in Washington could resolve this crisis as well, noting that “after decades of failures”, the Abraham Accords brokered under Donald Trump’s presidency had resurrected the hope for peace.

He said there were many similarities between the political positions of Trump and the Hungarian government, such as their views on the family and handling of migration.

Meanwhile, Szijjártó praised the government’s policy of opening to the East, underlining that despite the political efforts to decouple the European and Chinese economies, it was clear that many Western companies have become fully dependent on Chinese suppliers in sectors like the auto industry, among others.

When speaking about “a distance between reality and political propaganda”, Szijjártó said in an example that “the United States puts constant pressure onto Hungary to stop its nuclear cooperation with Russia while Russia became the largest Uranium supplier of the US last year. US firms, Szijjártó noted, are also participating in the upgrade of Hungary’s nuclear plant in Paks.

Speaking about the upcoming European Parliament elections and its significance, Szijjártó said that parties with a rationality-based, conservative and patriotic agenda endorsing national interests and sovereignty would need to have a strong showing in order for “turning negative developments around”.

Read also:

What is going on in the US? Intelligence methods used to entrap critics of Viktor Orbán – Read more HERE
US Ambassador in Budapest has been summoned

March 13, 2024

What is going on in the US? Intelligence methods used to entrap critics of Viktor Orbán

Russian Spy eavesdropping wiretapping Budapest bugged intelligence

An investigative article in the New York Times has revealed attempts to link the Hungarian opposition to George Soros. Israeli private intelligence methods were allegedly used to undermine Orbán’s critics, particularly those associated with the Action for Democracy organisation.

The intelligence methods used

Hungarian-born writer Kati Márton, chair of the board of trustees at the Action for Democracy organisation, alleges that she was trapped through a secretly recorded conversation, according to New York Times.

Known for her deeply personal and acclaimed works such as “Enemies of the People”, which recounts her parent’s experience, she thought that the conversation was with a confidant of Wesley Clark, NATO’s former European commander.

The man who presented himself as Clark’s confidant told Márton that he was an investment manager based in Switzerland. The topic of the conversation between the two ought to be about researching green energy prospects in Eastern Europe.

Márton, who is well informed about Hungary’s history and current politics, engaged in the conversation: however, the topic quickly shifted towards Hungary. Six months after the conversation, Márton believes that she was trapped in a sophisticated operation designed to incriminate her and other critics of Viktor Orbán‘s government because, on the 31st of January, portions of a secretly recorded video from the conversation surfaced online. Márton stated that the actions to discredit her mirror her parent’s persecution in the 1950s and feel like she is targeted for her views.

MagaBabe and the leaked video

The user who posted the recorded video was named “MagaBabe”, and the content, which the account released, was extensively edited and released long after the original discussion took place. MagaBabe, who identifies as a Trump supporter from the southern part of the United States, linked the video to Hungarian media outlets like Mandiner, Magyar Nemzet, and others.

These outlets labelled Kati Márton as a “black belt Soros agent” and implicated the founder of Action for Democracy, Dávid Korányi, in the narrative. They portray Korányi as a Brussels agent siphoning funds from Hungary. Some videos feature General Wesley Clark with the interviewer’s voice distorted, where Clark expresses his desire for more American support for the Hungarian left-wing opposition.

The New York Times article suggests that the information is not groundbreaking as George Soros and his affiliated groups have openly supported pro-democracy initiatives in Eastern Europe since the 1980s. While the Hungarian government accuses Soros of meddling in domestic politics, Hungary itself funds initiatives like the Conservative Political Action Committee’s (CPAC) annual Budapest meeting, which is linked to Trump‘s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.

The conclusion

Brian Liston, an analyst at a cybersecurity firm called Recorded Future, asserts that despite MagaBabe’s authentication on the platform X (formerly Twitter), the account lacks authenticity. Liston cites instances such as the use of a stolen photo of a Swedish model as evidence to prove that it is easy to be authenticated on the platform.

Kati Márton, who was targeted by MagaBabe and the accounts owners, parallels between the operation against her and others involved in Action for Democracy to the tactics of the Israeli cyber company called Black Cube, which had a history of targeting Hungarian activists.

David Pressman, the United States Ambassador to Hungary, expressed concern over Hungary’s intelligence services targeting US citizens but refrained from commenting on the authenticity of the leaked videos.

Read also:

PM Orbán must win time in Brussels or will lose EUR billions – HERE
Opposition politicians betrayed Hungarian interests in Brussels? – HERE

March 12, 2024

BREAKING NEWS – US Ambassador in Budapest has been summoned

Hungary’s government on Tuesday summoned the US ambassador over President Joe Biden’s recent remark on Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the foreign minister said, insisting that “we are not obliged to take lies from anyone, even if that person is the President of the United States.”

The foreign ministry said in a statement that at the briefing held at a different diplomatic event, Péter Szijjártó was asked about Biden attributing to Orbán words that suggested the Hungarian prime minister didn’t think democracy worked.

“Since such a lie has been said in connection with the Hungarian prime minister, we summoned the ambassador of the United States to the ministry, who was here today,” Szijjártó said. “Deputy minister Levente Magyar received him, and we asked the ambassador to present the quote and the time and place where the prime minister allegedly made such a statement.”

“As such a statement was obviously not made, we could not get any meaningful answer,” the minister said.

He said that the US ambassador’s reference to the official US position that Hungary was “building a dictatorship” made it extremely difficult to further Hungarian-US relations, arguing that such a suggestion “is an offense not to the government, but to the country.”

Szijjártó said that the prime minister and the government were leading the country with a mandate received from Hungarian voters. “We won four general elections in a row, in which the people set for us the direction of governing and we are now executing this [task].”

“So this is a very serious offence we flatly reject … so we summoned the ambassador; and this kind of mindset of an American president, and the Democratic administration is a heavy burden on our bilateral relations,” the minister said.

Commenting on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s remark that the Hungarian government was “playing a very dangerous game” with Russia, Szijjártó said it was the war itself that was dangerous, as it leads to a loss of life and a risk of escalation.

“And we don’t want this war to spread any further, since we live right here in its neighbourhood, and if the war spreads further, we will be directly endangered by it,” Szijjártó said. “So we will continue to do everything in the interest of there being peace in our neighbouring country.”

read also: Orbán and Trump: peacemakers meeting in Mar-a-Lago, Florida – PHOTOS, VIDEO

The Biden administration is sending increasingly serious signals to the Hungarian government that they are interfering in the election of a partner country and trying to influence people. The Orbán cabinet, on the other hand, is using increasingly strong communication messages and supporting Trump’s re-election. Meanwhile, the Hungarian government has always said that no one from outside should interfere in Hungarian elections.

The US embassy in Budapest has not yet reacted, but congratulated Hungary on joining NATO 25 years ago:

read also: Would the majority of Hungarians be happy if Trump won? – Survey

March 12, 2024