US Vice President JD Vance spoke on a wide range of issues during an appearance on Fox News’ Ingraham Angle, where he remarked that ‘Europe is at risk of engaging in civilizational suicide.’ In an analysis that followed his comments, the news channel highlighted Hungary as one of the few bright spots on the continent—refusing to follow Western European countries down a destructive path.
‘They are unable or unwilling to control their borders…You see them starting to limit the free speech of their own citizens,’ Vance noted, echoing his iconic speech at the Munich Security Conference in February, which left many European leaders in shock. The vice president clarified, however, that he wants Europe to thrive and to remain an important ally of the United States.
In a related article published recently, Fox News expanded on Vance’s critique, outlining the myriad challenges facing several European nations. The piece begins with the United Kingdom, describing the once-powerful economy as now stuck in painful stagnation, with no growth in per capita income recorded over the past three years.
The UK is also facing one of the highest levels of migratory pressure in Europe. ‘National togetherness is now being torn to shreds as unprecedented levels of mass migration transform parts of our country beyond recognition,’ Conservative MP Robert Jenrick is quoted as saying. ‘We have imported ethnic and religious tensions, meaning that conflicts on the other side of the world play out on Britain’s streets.’
The article continues with France, where economic growth has slowed dramatically despite modest expansion in recent years. France also suffers from a high public debt burden, which is likely to hinder future growth. It remains one of the Western European countries with the largest Muslim populations—partly a result of misguided migration policies that have contributed to a deterioration in internal security. Between 2015 and 2025 more than 150 lives were lost in terrorist attacks, the most recent in Mulhouse in February.
Fox News also highlighted the conviction of Marine Le Pen, the anti-immigration National Rally (RN) presidential candidate, who was barred from running and sentenced to prison—a move condemned by several figures, including US President Donald Trump.
Germany, of course, was not spared in the criticism either. Vance referred to it as another example of a country committing civilizational suicide. Fox News recalled how Germany, once the powerhouse of the European economy, has now slipped into recession for two consecutive years, with unemployment on the rise. It also noted the rapid rise of the anti-immigration Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), which has overtaken the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in the latest polls—despite the CDU winning the early elections in February. Migration to Germany surged to 1.6 million non-EU immigrants in 2022, up from fewer than half a million in 2021.
Rays of Hope
However, there are a few bright spots in Europe—namely Hungary, Italy, and Poland. Fox News praised Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for her tough stance on illegal migration. In 2024 the number of migrants dropped to 67,317—down nearly 60 per cent from 157,651 the previous year. The decrease is partly attributed to a bilateral agreement with Albania to boost border controls, provide legal pathways for immigration, and discourage illegal entry.
Poland, too, has taken a firmer approach to migration, thanks to rare cooperation between the former ruling party Law and Justice (PiS) and the current government led by Donald Tusk, resulting in a temporary suspension of asylum applications. ‘I believe that it is necessary to strengthen the security of our borders and the security of Poles,’ said conservative President Andrzej Duda, who signed the legislation.
Hungary, however, continues to be seen as the standard-bearer of the conservative movement in Europe—particularly as most other EU member states have embraced progressivism and adopted a woke agenda imported from the United States over the past decade. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has long stood alone against Western pressure on migration. In 2015 Hungary became the first country to build a border fence—along its southern frontier with Serbia. ‘Don’t be afraid to stand alone. When 26 others accepted mass migration, we built a fence and said no. Now, more and more PMs are saying exactly what Hungary said ten years ago—they’ve realized we were right,’ Orbán is quoted as saying.
Often described as an island of conservatism in a liberal European ocean, Hungary has deservedly captured the attention of many Republicans in the United States. Orbán was the most frequently mentioned European leader in Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, with the US president referring to the Hungarian prime minister more than 100 times on the trail. For its policies based on national sovereignty—from migration to child protection—Hungary stands as an example for many across the Atlantic. Experts and advisers close to the Hungarian government even contributed to the drafting of Trump’s programme, as Orbán himself confirmed in 2024.
JD Vance’s admiration for Hungary is also no secret. As previously reported in our detailed background on the vice president, his views on family policy, education, and the war in Ukraine align closely with those of the Hungarian government. Vance has also criticized the European Union for withholding funds from Hungary. This alignment on core issues gives Hungary a far stronger position to defend itself against the relentless attacks coming from progressives, both in Europe and beyond.
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