Trumpism appears to have crossed the Atlantic and raised spirits in Europe’s nationalist camp, to judge by speakers at the opening day of the CPAC conference in Budapest.
Hungarian host PM Victor Orbán received a rock-star reception while surrounded by a troop of body guards, Conservatives, Patriots for Europe party members and nationalists from across the continent.
Arrived in Budapest yesterday and we’re off to a great start.
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Can’t wait to climb the stage again today at CPAC Hungary at 14:50.
Hope to see you all there! pic.twitter.com/CaBQaojnfq
— Eva Vlaardingerbroek (@EvaVlaar) May 30, 2025
Held days before a key vote in Poland’s presidential contest, the high-profile CPAC conference sought to provide a boost for Polish Conservatives, including Mateusz Morawieck, Poland’s former PM and president of the European Conservatives and Reformists group.
Speakers and participants alike appeared animated by Donald Trump and the revolutionary changes he has introduced.
Leading faces of the Right in Europe, as well as several from the US, came to Budapest to express support for the pro-sovereignty pursued by Trump and Orbán, whose government has been visibly campaigning in the streets for a referendum on Ukraine’s EU membership.
Europe’s capital needed a lot of draining, said CPAC Hungary chairman Miklós Szánthó during his opening speech. In fact, the etymological meaning of Brussels–from the old Dutch words “broec” (marsh) and “saal” (settlement)–literally means “a swamp”, he noted.
All subsequent speakers painted a picture of Brussels as an engine for undermining national sovereignty, opening borders, and despite its own rhetoric, attacking the rule of law.
Can we have a moment for this iconic skirt @CPAC 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sIXx4Srdop
— Scarlett Karoleva (@Scaroleva) May 30, 2025
Speakers attacked the cancellation of Romania’s presidential election, court actions against Marine Le Pen, a possible banning of the Alternative for Germany, and alleged abuses by the Polish government against its Conservative opposition.
Also on offer was visible support for and from Israeli Conservatives, voiced in shared views on radical Islam and criticism of open borders.
Another frequent theme was the strong rejection of the “woke agenda” and “LGBTQ propaganda”, both of which speakers said emanated from Brussels. Speakers agitated for the return of “higher ethical standards” and “common sense” to the European capital.
Dr. @Alice_Weidel bei CPAC Hungary
Premiere: Die europäischen patriotischen Parteien wachsen zusammen unter der Führung von Viktor #Orban. #CPACHungary2025https://t.co/dipPo02Zmw pic.twitter.com/I5lE359txW
— Dr. Rainer Rothfuss (@DrRothfuss) May 30, 2025
Observers noted the speakers appeared highly aligned and united in their messaging, which they argued broke a tradition of division on the Right.
This international cooperation among nationalists took the form of rejecting a liberal globalism, which, they claimed, spreads war, poverty, insecurity and “population replacement”.
All speakers also strongly endorsed the importance of free speech, which they described as being increasingly under threat across Europe.
Imitating Trump, European nationalists promised to take on what they called the “deep state” in Europe and NGOs that had become let-wing activists.
AfD Squad at CPAC Hungary nach der Rede von @Alice_Weidel, für die sie als einzige Rednerin bisher Standing Ovations bekam!#nurnochAfD pic.twitter.com/udeeEHY4pg
— Anna Nguyen, MdL (@nguyen_afd) May 30, 2025
Orbán said in his opening speech that there was only one way forward: winning elections.
This goal was most immediate in Poland, he said, but further important elections would also follow in Czechia and France.
