On Sunday, Hungarian voters overwhelmingly repudiated Viktor Orbán, Donald Trump’s favorite European leader, despite extensive gerrymandering and substantial control of the media. In a record turnout, the opposition Tisza Party won more than two-thirds of the parliamentary seats, enough to reverse changes to the constitution Orbán made during his tenure.
Five days before the election, Trump sent JD Vance to Budapest, where Vance spoke at an Orbán rally, declaring, “We have got to get Viktor Orbán re-elected as prime minister of Hungary, don’t we?” This was followed by a Trump social media post pledging, “We are excited to invest in the future Prosperity that will be generated by Orbán’s continued Leadership!”
The Trump bear hug backfired. For most politicians outside MAGA-land, even fellow autocrats like Orbán, Trump’s endorsement is the kiss of death.
But for his opponents in other Western democracies, the chance to resist Trump has been the kiss of life. Consider Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister. She was in very big trouble for re-election until Trump threw her a lifeline in the form of his lunatic threat to invade Greenland.
Frederiksen, a Social Democrat, rallied Danish pride and stood up to Trump. “If the United States decides to attack another NATO country, then everything would stop—that includes NATO and therefore post–World War II security,” she warned. She organized all the major European leaders to support the Danes. Her coalition narrowly won a surprise victory in the March 24 election. Trump, mired in Iran, has stopped talking about Greenland, at least for now.
Or take the case of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Two years ago, Carney was known mainly as a central banker (of both Canada and Britain), with no experience in politics. Today, he is the most popular Canadian since maybe Wayne Gretzky.
When Carney won the Liberal Party election in March 2025 to succeed the increasingly unpopular Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Liberals were in big trouble. The Conservative Party candidate, Pierre Poilievre, a Canadian Trump wannabe, was leading in the polls.
But then Trump turned Carney into a national hero. Trump proposed annexing Canada as the 51st state. The controversy and strong opposition to Trump propelled the Liberals back into office, with Carney as prime minister. Speaking directly to Trump, in a May 2025 Oval Office meeting, Carney pointedly said, “As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale.” Canada, he added, is “not for sale, won’t be for sale, ever.”
After Carney commenced trade negotiations with China, Trump imposed tariffs on Canada of 100 percent. Carney retaliated. Public opinion has shifted to the Liberals at a record rate. Today, Carney’s approval ratings are around 58 percent.
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The Canadians used to be our docile good neighbor. Thanks to Trump, they have found a new national purpose and pride.
When Carney and the Liberals won in April 2025, they fell just short of a parliamentary majority, and he had to lead a minority government. Today, there are three by-elections for Parliament and Carney’s Liberals are poised to gain an absolute majority.
Trump has even given a boost to Britain’s faltering Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer, though it may be too late. Starmer, a plodding chap, has made serial errors by dithering about economic policy, oscillating between expansion programs and fiscal orthodoxy. As a leader, he has all the charisma of a clerk.
But even Starmer has found his voice in standing up to Trump. He has refused to allow the U.S. to use British bases for offensive missions in Iran, and in an interview Thursday he equated Trump with Putin, declaring that Brits were facing higher energy bills “because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world.” He added, “I’m fed up.”
A poll conducted for The Independent found that Starmer’s personal approval rating increases by 26 points when voters are reminded of his resistance to Trump.
Even Trump may not be enough to save Starmer, whose party has been savaged in recent by-elections. If Labour, as widely expected, does dismally in the upcoming May local elections, Starmer is likely to be forced out. His successor as party leader and prime minister is likely to be the popular and effective mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham. But if Starmer somehow does survive, he can thank Trump.
Orbán, on the other hand, is likely cursing Trump’s name.
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