On Sunday, Hungarian voters overwhelmingly repudiated Viktor Orb\u00e1n, Donald Trump\u2019s 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 Orb\u00e1n made during his tenure.<\/p>\n
Five days before the election, Trump sent JD Vance to Budapest, where Vance spoke at an Orb\u00e1n rally<\/a>, declaring, \u201cWe have got to get Viktor Orb\u00e1n re-elected as prime minister of Hungary, don\u2019t we?\u201d This was followed by a Trump social media post pledging, \u201cWe are excited to invest in the future Prosperity that will be generated by Orb\u00e1n\u2019s continued Leadership!\u201d<\/p>\n The Trump bear hug backfired. For most politicians outside MAGA-land, even fellow autocrats like Orb\u00e1n, Trump\u2019s endorsement is the kiss of death.<\/p>\n More from Robert Kuttner<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Frederiksen, a Social Democrat, rallied Danish pride and stood up to Trump. \u201cIf the United States decides to attack another NATO country, then everything would stop\u2014that includes NATO and therefore post\u2013World War II security,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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, \u201cAs you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale.\u201d Canada, he added, is \u201cnot for sale, won\u2019t be for sale, ever.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s approval ratings are around 58 percent.<\/p>\n Today On TAP<\/p>\n This story first appeared in our Today On TAP newsletter, a weekday email featuring commentary on the daily news from Robert Kuttner and Harold Meyerson.<\/p>\n The Canadians used to be our docile good neighbor. Thanks to Trump, they have found a new national purpose and pride.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s Liberals are poised to gain an absolute majority.<\/p>\n Trump has even given a boost to Britain\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> in Iran, and in an interview Thursday he equated Trump with Putin, declaring that Brits were facing higher energy bills \u201cbecause of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world.\u201d He added, \u201cI\u2019m fed up.\u201d<\/p>\n