Voters turn Hungary leader into goulash

Trumpism’s guiding light in Hungary fizzled on Sunday like a torch all out of tiki.

It was perfect. Hungary’s strongman prime minister Viktor Orban built an authoritarian Christian nationalist state. He cracked down on the press, tossed constitutional protections, spread the spoils of corruption to his pals, demonized immigrants, targeted LGBTQ rights and tried to rewrite Hungary’s history to get rid of all the inconvenient stuff. Stop me if you’ve already heard this one. TrumpandOrban starred in a buddy film, “The Road to Moscow.” Trump’s beautiful red hats dotted Orban’s campaign events.

But it all came crashing down when Orban was clobbered in Hungarian parliamentary elections. Not even a lastditch visit by Vice President JD Vance could save Orban. A massive number of Hungarian voters had enough of Orban, and Trump.

Back here in Iowa, where all top Republicans have been surgically fused to Trump’s agenda and electoral prospects, this would be a good time to reconsider whether sitting in the president’s lap and licking his face like a cockapoo is the right strategy.

We’ve gone to war in Iran, causing the cost of living to increase even more and gas prices to shoot into the stratosphere. His policies have harmed farmers, manufacturers and basically any American who is not a billionaire. Broken promises will be used to make the floor in his ballroom.

General election voters may finally be sick of Trump’s hateful, dishonest schtick.

Trump’s approval numbers are bad, nationally. Disapproval is routing approval on most issues. In Iowa, depending on which poll you read, Trump’s approval is narrowly below water or in danger of sinking deeper. In Iowa, you don’t want to be anywhere near the water, let alone submerged.

Are Americans better off than they were 16 months ago? Absolutely not.

Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, who is running for the U.S. Senate, is a prime example of a Republican who has gone to extraordinary lengths to pledge her allegiance to Trump and might regret it.

As she announced her Senate campaign, Hinson promised to be Trump’s “strongest ally” if elected. Her campaign is “embarking on a journey to continue fighting alongside President Trump to transform the America First agenda into our America First future.”

Last week, Hinson was asked about the president’s threat to bomb civilian infrastructure, bridges, power plants, water facilities, etc. Hinson could not conjure a straight answer.

“What I do support is making our world a safer place,” Hinson said. Aww, me too.

“I pledge to be a faithful son of my country, a selfless and honest servant of the Hungarian people!” said Emre Nagy, who led the Hungarian uprising against Soviet rule in 1953 and paid with his life. Orban had his statue removed.

Selfless and honest. Republicans should try it.

(319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com

TODD DORMAN