How Media Lied to the World about Hungary | Balázs Orbán

Summary

Summary of "How Media Lied to the World about Hungary | Balázs Orbán" | The Rubin Report

Release Date: June 21, 2025

In this compelling episode of The Rubin Report, host Dave Rubin engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Balázs Orbán, the Political Director for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The discussion delves deep into the misrepresentation of Hungary by mainstream media, the influence of liberal propaganda, and Hungary's stance on national sovereignty and migration. The episode offers valuable insights into the political landscape of Hungary and its interactions with Western powers, particularly the European Union.

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1. Misrepresentation of Hungary in Mainstream Media

Balázs Orbán initiates the conversation by addressing the widespread negative portrayal of Hungary by liberal-controlled mainstream media. He explains how Hungary was depicted as a fascist dictatorship, a narrative that was largely accepted due to the lack of understanding of Hungary's unique language and cultural context.

Balázs Orbán [01:01]: "The mainstream media... they were portraying Hungary like, like fascist dictatorship type of country and no one else."

Dave Rubin echoes these sentiments, noting the repetitive nature of the media's negative portrayal and its impact on international perceptions.

Dave Rubin [02:37]: "The media compilation they showed beforehand... it's exactly the same playbook over and over."

2. The Shift with Donald Trump's Presidency

A pivotal moment in the narrative, as Balázs Orbán recounts, was the election of Donald Trump. Trump's presidency exposed the deceit of liberal media regarding his persona and policies, leading observers to question the veracity of similar media portrayals in other contexts, including Hungary.

Balázs Orbán [03:56]: "If they are lying about Trump, it's possible that they are lying about Viktor Orban in Hungary as well."

This realization sparked curiosity and skepticism among the public, prompting a reevaluation of Hungary's true stance and governance.

3. Cultural and Linguistic Challenges

Balázs Orbán emphasizes the difficulties in conveying Hungary's true political atmosphere due to the country's unique language and cultural nuances, which are often lost in international reporting.

Balázs Orbán [02:37]: "We have a very special language. It's only 12 million people on earth is speaking this kind of language."

This linguistic barrier contributed to the ease with which liberal media could misrepresent Hungary without facing immediate backlash or misunderstanding from a global audience.

4. Internal Dissent and Media Control

The conversation touches upon the presence of dissent within Hungary, exemplified by the existence of places like the Red Ruin Bar, a hub for Marxist discourse, contrasting sharply with state-controlled narratives.

Balázs Orbán [05:10]: "They live next to each other."

Despite such pockets of dissent, Balázs Orbán asserts the government's efforts to unify public opinion around critical issues beyond partisan politics, such as migration and national sovereignty.

5. Migration Policy and National Sovereignty

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around Hungary's strict migration policies, which Balázs Orbán describes as a reflection of the nation's civilizational and societal agreements rather than mere party politics.

Balázs Orbán [06:02]: "Migration issue, it's a perfect example... 80, 90% of the society begs the Hungarian government on the migration policy which is basically just closed borders."

He underscores the importance of protecting national integrity by controlling borders and preserving sovereignty against external pressures, especially from the European Union.

6. External Threats and European Union Sanctions

Balázs Orbán outlines the challenges Hungary faces from the European Union, including sanctions imposed for its border policies. These sanctions financially strain the country and fund propaganda efforts against the Hungarian government.

Balázs Orbán [10:54]: "We are already under sanction by the European Union because we are defending our borders."

He highlights how these external pressures undermine Hungary's economic stability and contribute to broader issues like energy shortages and inflation, affecting everyday Hungarians.

7. The Role of International Allies

Recognizing the necessity of international support, Balázs Orbán emphasizes the importance of aligning with conservative and right-wing sovereignty forces globally to defend national values and resist the "globalist machinery."

Balázs Orbán [09:09]: "We have to engage in international politics... to defend the country from the Brazilian liberals."

This strategic international engagement is portrayed as essential for Hungary to safeguard its sovereignty and promote its governance model on the global stage.

8. Success and Its Challenges

Balázs Orbán candidly discusses how Hungary's effective policies have led to both national success and increased scrutiny from global institutions, positioning Hungary as a potential "epicenter of freedom" in Europe.

Dave Rubin [08:49]: "Would you have ever thought years ago that Hungary would become sort of an epicenter of freedom the way that it is?"

He reflects on the paradox of achieving national strength while simultaneously attracting negative attention and opposition from larger political entities like the EU.

9. Defense of National Values

Concluding the conversation, Balázs Orbán reiterates the necessity of defending core national values against external ideological assaults. He advocates for a united front to protect Hungary's cultural and political autonomy.

Balázs Orbán [07:42]: "We have to defend our values."

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Notable Quotes

1. Balázs Orbán [01:01]: "The mainstream media... they were portraying Hungary like, like fascist dictatorship type of country and no one else."
2. Dave Rubin [02:37]: "The media compilation they showed beforehand... it's exactly the same playbook over and over."
3. Balázs Orbán [03:56]: "If they are lying about Trump, it's possible that they are lying about Viktor Orban in Hungary as well."
4. Balázs Orbán [06:02]: "Migration issue, it's a perfect example... 80, 90% of the society begs the Hungarian government on the migration policy which is basically just closed borders."
5. Balázs Orbán [10:54]: "We are already under sanction by the European Union because we are defending our borders."

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Conclusion

This episode of The Rubin Report provides an in-depth examination of Hungary's political climate, highlighting the challenges posed by international media misrepresentation and external political pressures. Balázs Orbán offers a perspective that underscores the importance of national sovereignty, controlled migration policies, and strategic international alliances in preserving Hungary's autonomy and promoting its governance model. For listeners interested in international politics, media influence, and the dynamics of national sovereignty within the European context, this episode serves as a valuable resource.

Transcript

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[Balazs Orban]

Was back at the time also controlled by the liberals, they started a political campaign against us. And they were portraying Hungary like, like, like fascist dictatorship type of country and no one else. And the voters, the politicians on the other side, actually no one knew that who we are and what we're doing. So no one was speaking against it. And that was the liberal propaganda against Hungary everywhere. But then with Donald Trump, the situation changed.

[Dave Rubin]

Okay? Balash Orban Political Director for Prime Minister Viktor Orban Every time I've interviewed you, I have to point out you are not related unless something has happened in the last.

[Balazs Orban]

No, everything is unchanged.

[Dave Rubin]

Still not married in the family yet. You know, it's funny, when I see you now, we've been doing this for a couple of years. It seems like it's like seeing an old friend we've both put on. You've gone a little more rustic than me. We chatted a bit last night and one of the things that you mentioned that I think we're going to talk about on stage in a few minutes and then again later tonight at the Danube Institute is how the country of Hungary is so misportrayed by the mainstream media. And as you know, that's something that I really focus on from an American perspective. And you guys Played a montage or cpac played a montage at the beginning, just with some of the ways that that Orban, Viktor Orban and country are perceived. And it's rather extraordinary, even though it's kind of old hat for us because we've been through this game.

[Balazs Orban]

Yeah, it's true. I think, you know, when I think how the situation was looking like 10, 15 years ago, I remember that it was very hard to explain for us Hungarians who we are and what we are doing, because we have a very special language. It's only 12 million people on earth is speaking this kind of language. And you don't know the cultural and the linguistic context. You have no idea what's going on in the country. So it's very hard to explain to the foreigners what's going on. But. And the mainstream media, which was back at the time also controlled by the liberals, they started a political campaign against us and they were portraying Hungary like fascist dictatorship type of country and no one else and the voters, the politicians on the other side, actually no one knew that who we are and what we're doing. So no one was speaking against it. And that was the liberal propaganda against Hungary everywhere. But then with Donald Trump, the situation changed. Because I think American people and many Western European people realized when the liberal media started to spread lies on Trump, they realized that, oh, they are lying on this issue.

[Dave Rubin]

So start seeing it in one place, the next thing you're seeing it in.

[Balazs Orban]

And then they realize that if they lying about Trump, it's possible that they are lying about Viktor Orban in Hungary as well. And they are lying about many things. And people started to be curious about what's going on. And this is why we are very happy to have so many Americans who are here and they have field experience what's going on and they can broadcast a different context, which is closer to the truth than the liberal one.

[Dave Rubin]

The media compilation they showed beforehand, I mean, the things they were saying about Hungary and about your prime minister, it's exactly the same stuff. It is exactly the same playbook over and over. Interestingly, you mentioned at an event last night that we were at the Roger Scruton Cafe, which there are several of here. Great conservative thinker who unfortunately is an longer with us. But you mentioned there that right next door was a communist and Bark s Cafe in this place that we are told is authoritarian and has no dissent. That quite literally next door the Marxists have their own cafe. The bar is anyone there? Was anyone.

[Balazs Orban]

The bar is called Red Ruin. So that's A that's on the notes.

[Unknown]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Balazs Orban]

And, and they live next to each other.

[Dave Rubin]

So you have dissent here. There are people who are not happy with the government and they're in jail.

[Balazs Orban]

And there are, yeah, there are many people. But you know, we try to convince them that it's a, it's the best decision to, to, to, to support the government. But if you are not able to convince everyone, we still can convince the people that even if you dislike the government, there are some important civilizational issues which are not, which is, which, which is not about party politics. It's about, it's about the country and about how to defend it. So the migration issue, it's a perfect example. Now I would say 80, 90% of the society begs the Hungarian government on the migration policy which is basically just closed borders.

[Dave Rubin]

That's the most simplest way to put it.

[Balazs Orban]

They don't like us, but they support our migration policy. And I think it's very important for every country to have you know, like cultural, civilizational, society based agreements within the society shared by the leaders. And it has nothing to do with party politics. You can love, you can hate politicians and you can do whatever you want, you can say whatever you want. But there are some basic things like leave alone our children, protect the borders, preserve the sovereignty not to bring a country into a war and things like this. This is above politics or should be.

[Dave Rubin]

You also mentioned something last night that I will bring up when we're on stage later, which I thought was interesting, which is that in some sense what you're suffering from right now is a function of your own success. That because you guys have done this right as it pertains to the border, you're obviously at odds with the European Union. Your economy basically is doing well, especially to the backdrop of what's happening in a lot of other Western European nations that at some level the electorate kind of doesn't realize that things could be significantly worth.

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[Balazs Orban]

And this is why, this is why it's very important for us to have the foreigners who are, who are here in Hungary and they are explaining to the Hungarian public as well, that, that. Guys, this is unfortunately not the case in every country. So. So politicians are persecuted, people are persecuted based on their comments, their tweets, their. Their political opinions. The migrants are on the street. And it can happen in Germany. There was no politician or in France who was saying back in the time, 20, 30 years ago that, guys, what's going on 30 years forward will change our country, so we should rather stop it now. No one was saying it in those big countries. And people I think would be, would love someone who is telling them the truth. So this is why for us, it's important to have our friends here in Hungary and explain to the Hungarian audience what's going on. And things unfortunately can be much worse. So we have to be able to defend our values.

[Dave Rubin]

Would you have ever thought years ago that Hungary would become sort of an epicenter of freedom the way that it is? I mean, you're a country of, I think 9.7 million people. You just mentioned only 12 million people worldwide speak your language. And yet you really do seem like the European epicenter of freedom. America is sort of the world epicenter. And you guys are the satellite in.

[Balazs Orban]

This part of the world. We talked a lot about this with the Prime Minister and he many times said, he said it publicly as well, but also many times told me that, you know, our job is not to save the word, our job is to save Hungary. So it's like we don't want international attention. It's like we just want to have a government which helps the nation to thrive. This is the only important part of the job. But what happened? The attacks came from outside. And we realized that if we are only focusing on domestic issues, then we will lose the battle because they will destroy us from outside. And they have the power, they have the media, they have the sanction regimes, they have the political pressure, they have the NGOs and everything. So this was the point where the Prime Minister said that we have to create a system which is helping us to defend the country. And on this level, we have to engage in international politics. And they have the conservative right wing sovereignty forces all over the world.

[Dave Rubin]

So since this is one of three events that we'll be doing together, I'll save the rest of the questions for later. Let me ask you one other thing for now, which is, so when people look at a small country that has its borders under control, that has confident governance, what is the biggest external threat? The things that you just mentioned, what is the biggest thing that you could be sanctioned by the European Union or that they can hamper your ability to trade. What would say, the biggest threat from sort of like what we call the globalist order?

[Balazs Orban]

I give you one example. We are already under sanction by, by the European Union because we are defending our borders. The Hungarian government has to pay 1 million Euro per day because we are not opening our borders. So it's, it's, it's, it's a sanction which is, which is operating every day against us and.

[Dave Rubin]

Probably so they can fund propaganda against you.

[Balazs Orban]

Yes, yes, exactly. And you know what is going on, what happened with the war in the last three years? Prime Minister Orban was saying that there is no solution on the battlefield. The sooner we get back to the diplomatic track, it will be better for everyone. But the European leaders were pushing, pushing, pushing to another direction. And it caused a massive destruction. The negative consequences on the field of energy, on the field of inflation, on the field of general stagnation. What you experience in Europe are affecting the Hungarian people. So the biggest challenge for us now is, it was mentioned by the Prime Minister, how to deliberate Brussels, how to regain the control, because now it's controlled by a globalist machinery and they are using everything what they have against the nation states and the national governments. It's not democratic at all. It's the opposite of democracy. What is going on there? So if we want to preserve Hungarian sovereignty, then we have to be part of the European cooperation of the nations, but also defend the country from the Brazilian liberals.

[Dave Rubin]

You may continue this on the main stage.

[Balazs Orban]

Thank you very much, Dave.

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