Hungary can breathe a sigh of relief. US Ambassador David Pressman delivered what we all hope will be his final speech as the representative of Washington in Hungary at a reception he hosted in Budapest this week. True to form, Pressman’s farewell remarks were not without biased accusations and allegations directed at Hungary’s democratically elected government.
At the beginning of his speech, the outgoing ambassador thanked those in attendance who, in his words, ‘work so hard to advance freedom and human dignity in this country’. This, of course, primarily referred to opposition journalists, representatives of certain NGOs, critics of the Hungarian government, and so on.
Afterward, Pressman moved on to ‘the core issue.’ Regarding the war in Ukraine, which has been raging for nearly three years in Hungary’s neighbourhood, the US ambassador remarked: ‘Attacks on democracy don’t only come in the form of Kalashnikovs and Kinzhal missiles. Democratic values—here and around the world—are also under attack.’
According to Pressman, Hungary is a ‘country where democracy is challenged by kleptocracy, where the rule of law increasingly feels subordinate to rule by propaganda.’
‘The reason Hungary continues to be ranked the most corrupt country in Europe and trails its peers economically has little to do with Brussels or George Soros or marauding outside forces. It has everything to do with public corruption and the attacks on Hungary’s democratic institutions.’
Yes, Mr Pressman, we know. Hungary’s democracy is on the same level, or even worse than that of Botswana—at least according to the World Justice Project, an NGO funded by none other than George Soros. Perhaps Mr Pressman would consider serving a few years as ambassador to the African nation, and then share his insights on how the rule of law and democracy there are superior to those in Hungary—of course, with a primary focus on LGBTQ+ issues.
Pressman then proceeded to criticize Hungary’s foreign relations, repeating the unsubstantiated accusation that Viktor Orbán is making secret deals with China.
The outgoing ambassador then managed to deliver what could be considered the lie of the year—or perhaps even of years ahead. ‘The President of the United States asked me to come here because he and I, like you, believe Hungary matters,’ he declared.
The president in question is Joe Biden—the same man who once referred to Viktor Orbán as a dictator, whose Vice President Kamala Harris described the Hungarian prime minister as a ‘dictator, authoritarian, and murderer.’ This is also the president under whose administration the United States unilaterally terminated the Hungarian–American double taxation agreement and whose ambassador, Mr Pressman, announced sanctions against Hungarian individuals.
No, Mr Pressman, you never truly believed that Hungary matters. What you and President Biden thought was that ousting Viktor Orbán’s government mattered—to impose a progressive globalist agenda on one of the few European countries that prioritizes its own interests and sovereignty. And ultimately, you failed.
Just as you failed to prevent Donald Trump from returning to power, despite your ‘best’ efforts. This is why we Hungarians remain optimistic about the future of Hungarian–American relations, viewing Mr Pressman’s departure as the first step toward a new and successful chapter.
The prospect of a different approach in the coming years is already evident, as one of Pressman’s most likely successors, Bryan Leib, has responded to the outgoing ambassador’s controversial farewell speech. ‘@USAmbHungary continues to take cheap shots at our Hungarian allies on his way out the door. Now he's calling @PM_ViktorOrban and his government kleptocrats. Such an egregiously outlandish statement!’ Leib wrote in a post on X, commenting on the speech.
Leib also apologized to Hungary for Pressman’s behaviour and declared that change is coming on 20 January 2025. We can’t wait!
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