Hungarian PM Orbán, known for eroding democracy, meets Trump, signaling shared views. Orbán’s reign saw democratic decline, with hijacked institutions and media control. Similar trends emerge in US, as Trumpism tilts courts and media. Authoritarianism thrives amid societal divisions and economic woes. Orbán’s success stemmed from exploiting economic insecurities. US can learn from Hungary’s mistakes to safeguard democracy. Gábor Scheiring, a Harvard fellow, warns of the dangers of authoritarian populism.