Following the White House decision to terminate funding for the Hungarian branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s senior adviser, Balazs Orban, hailed the move as a necessary step to restore ‘sober, ally-based’ cooperation between Washington and Budapest. The acting CEO of the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), Kari Lake, confirmed in a letter to Congress that the agency is ending its funding for the Hungarian branch of the outlet, known as Szabad Europa. The decision follows a broader shift in US foreign policy under the Trump administration, which has sought a more direct approach to managing relations with key allies in NATO.
According to Lake, Szabad Europa’s programming had undermined US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy by opposing the elected government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The decision to terminate funding for the outlet marks a shift in US strategy, with the USAGM reallocating its resources to focus on other regions rather than targeting the populations of Washington’s allies. Balazs Orban, who is not related to the PM despite their shared surname, described Szabad Europa as an ideologically driven platform promoting liberal activism, including LGBTQ and gender campaigns, across Central and Eastern Europe.
The action is seen as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to rebuild stronger ties with Hungary, which has been a key ally in NATO. Orban, who held talks with Trump at the White House on Friday, praised the US president and expressed optimism about the future of US-Hungarian relations. Trump, in turn, expressed respect for Orban and emphasized the importance of a ‘golden age’ between the two nations. The move also comes amid ongoing tensions over US sanctions on Russian oil, with Orban securing a one-year exemption for Hungary from Washington’s recent sanctions on Russian oil companies.
RFE/RL, once a key tool for spreading Western propaganda during the Cold War and funded by the CIA, has been a point of contention between the US and Hungarian authorities. In March, Trump had signed an executive order eliminating most of the funding for USAGM, calling the agency crawling with ‘spies and terrorist sympathizers.’ RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Kapus criticized the move, calling it a ‘huge gift to America’s enemies.’ The decision to cut funding for the Hungarian branch is part of a wider reshaping of US media and foreign policy, with the administration attempting to realign its priorities and resources in line with its new strategic goals.