Orbán urges Christian nationalists in Europe and US to ‘unite forces’ at CPAC

The prime minister met the former US president Donald Trump in New Jersey earlier this week and, on Thursday, delivered the opening address at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Texas.

In his CPAC address, he sought to portray western civilization as under siege from progressives and offer a rallying cry for fighting back. He took aim at familiar targets such as illegal immigration, same-sex marriage, "leftist media" and philanthropist George Soros while quoting the Fox News host Tucker Carlson and Clint Eastwood. There were frequent cheers and applause from those present.

"We all know how this works. Progressive liberals didn't want me to be here because they knew what I would tell you - because I'm here to tell you that we should unite our forces because we Hungarians know how to defeat the enemies of freedom on the political battlefield."

On a stage stage branded "Fire Pelosi" - a reference to the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi - and "Save America", the Hungarian entered to enthusiastic applause in a dark suit, white shirt and red tie reminiscent of Trump. He buttoned his jacket and he stepped up the lectern and flattered his hosts in Texas, known as the Lone Star state.

"If I am correct, Lone Star state means that independence, freedom and sovereignty are the dearest values in this part of America," he said. "My country, Hungary, is the Lone Star state of Europe."

He mocked "the leftist media" for criticizing his visit and said those who accuse his government of racism and antisemitism were "simply idiots", adding to loud applause: "They are the industrial fake news corporation."

"If you separate western civilization from its Judaeo-Christian heritage, the worst things in history happen. Let's be honest, the most evil things in modern history were carried out by people who hated Christianity. Don't be afraid to call your enemies by their name. You can't play safe but they will never show mercy."

He warned darkly: "The horrors of Nazis and communists happened because some western states in continental Europe abandoned that Christian values and today's progressives are planning to do the same. They want to give up on western values and create a new world, a post-western world. Who is going to stop them if we don't?"

The authoritarian leader characterized Hungary as a "David-sized nation standing against the globalist Goliath" earned shouts of support when he claimed that he had fought back by making Hungary the first country in Europe to stop an "invasion" of illegal immigrants.

"We actually built that wall and it stopped illegal migration. Tucker Carlson said, when he visited us, it's not a hi-tech wall but guarded by people who love their country, and the border protection system works."

This triggered a prolonged standing ovation and whoops of enthusiasm from the CPAC crowd.

"Secondly, when I think about the CPAC crowd, I think about a group of people who are interested in coddling and playing footsie with the extreme Maga election-denying wing of the Republican party and that's become a growing majority. If you combine those two things for me and my political digestive system, you just have to couch that as concerned."