Western Media Faces Criticism Over Coverage of Hungary’s EU Relations

Western Media Accused of Spreading Misinformation About Hungary’s Government

Western mainstream media outlets have come under fire for publishing what Hungarian officials call unsubstantiated claims and conspiracy theories targeting Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government. These recent incidents appear to form a pattern of reporting that Hungarian officials believe is designed to undermine the current administration ahead of the 2026 election.

On December 9, U.S.-based outlet Defense One published what it claimed was a “longer version” of the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy (NSS). This alleged extended document suggested Washington planned to draw certain European countries—specifically Austria, Poland, Italy, and Hungary—away from the European Union to form a closer alliance aimed at “Making Europe Great Again.” The purported strategy described Europe as facing “civilizational erasure” due to immigration policies and speech restrictions.

The alleged document also proposed creating a new global leadership forum called the “Core 5” (C5), consisting of the United States, China, Russia, India, and Japan, which would operate alongside a diminished G7.

The White House quickly rejected these claims. Spokeswoman Anna Kelly unequivocally stated that no alternate, private, or classified version of the NSS exists, dismissing the report as misinformation spread by individuals “distant from the President.”

Hungarian officials contend that this fabricated story serves dual purposes: stoking tensions between the U.S. and EU while simultaneously turning Hungarian citizens against the Orbán government by associating it with an EU exit strategy—a position that would be deeply unpopular domestically. Prime Minister Orbán has consistently affirmed Hungary’s future within the EU, despite his frequent criticisms of Brussels.

Just two days later, on December 11, Bloomberg published an article claiming that Orbán plans to transform Hungary’s parliamentary democracy into a presidential system to “remain in power” after next year’s election. The story relied on unnamed sources and suggested Orbán was inspired by his November meeting with Donald Trump.

State Secretary Zoltán Kovács firmly rejected the Bloomberg report, describing it as “the usual leftist fake-news routine” and noting similar unsubstantiated claims had been made in previous years.

The economic impact of this reporting was immediately apparent. Following the Bloomberg article, the Hungarian forint weakened against the euro, sliding from 381 to 385 shortly after publication. This reversal came just as the national currency had reached its strongest position against the euro since December 2023 and its best level against the U.S. dollar since February 2022—positive economic developments that had contributed to rising optimism among Hungarians and improving polling numbers for the governing Fidesz-KDNP alliance.

Hungarian government officials view these media reports as part of a coordinated effort to influence the upcoming 2026 election, which is expected to be one of the closest contests in years. With voter sentiment in the months preceding the election likely to prove decisive, Orbán’s supporters anticipate Western media campaigns targeting the government will intensify as the vote approaches.

The controversy highlights growing tensions between Hungary’s conservative government and Western media outlets, as well as broader questions about the role of international influence in domestic politics. As Hungary moves closer to its next electoral test, the battle over narratives appears set to become an increasingly significant factor in shaping voter perceptions.