"The future of America is Hungary."

Luxurious hotels and upscale restaurants now occupy the center of Budapest, a city once known for its rundown buildings. New monuments have also appeared in the city center. One of them imitates the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., commemorating Hungary's 19th-century empire. The long granite wall no longer bears the names of fallen soldiers from the wars but instead lists the names of former "Hungarian" regions—now cities and villages in Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Poland—and honors them solemnly with an eternal flame.

However, the nationalism's kitsch and tourist traps obscure a different reality. Hungary, once widely considered the wealthiest country in Central Europe (and during the Cold War, dubbed the "happiest barracks in the socialist camp"), later became one of the most favored countries for foreign investors in the region. But now, it is one of the poorest countries in the European Union, possibly even the poorest. Industrial output has been declining year by year. Productivity is close to the lowest levels in the region. Unemployment continues to rise.

Despite the ruling party's heavy promotion of traditional values, the population is shrinking. Perhaps it's because young people don't want to have children in a place where two-thirds of citizens consider the national education system "terrible," and hospitals are closing due to a mass exodus of doctors. Perhaps talented individuals don't want to stay in a country that has been ranked the most corrupt in the EU for three consecutive years.

Even the Heritage Foundation, the think tank linked to the "Make America Great Again" movement that created the "2025 Plan," ranks Hungary at the bottom of the EU in terms of government integrity in its Index of Economic Freedom. Visitors in the city center of Budapest do not see this decline. But it seems neither does the American right wing.

While Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán may not have key mineral wealth to offer or a large military, he plays an important role in American political debates. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Orbán held multiple meetings with Donald Trump. In May 2022, an Orbán-friendly think tank hosted a right-wing CPAC conference in Budapest, and three months later, Orbán attended the CPAC Dallas meeting in Texas.

Last year, at the third Hungarian CPAC, a Republican congressman described the country as "one of the most successful leaders in conservative principles and governance." Steve Bannon, in a video message, called Hungary "an inspiration to the world." Even Kevin Roberts of the Heritage Foundation, despite his own institution's analysis of Hungarian governance, described modern Hungary as "not only a model of modern statecraft but a model to follow."

Although Hungary is praised by many American right-wing figures as a model of conservatism on the international stage, its domestic economic and social issues are becoming increasingly severe. The luxurious sights of Budapest mask the country's deeper decline, particularly the declining productivity, rising unemployment, and shrinking population. This disconnect from reality contrasts sharply with Hungary's political halo, especially under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government, which combines traditional values with nationalism, while the country faces serious corruption and governance issues.

While Orbán's political model is admired by some American conservatives, whether it can bring sustainable prosperity to Hungary remains in question. The American right, especially those collaborating with Orbán, may need to reassess the long-term impact of this model, particularly in the face of globalization and the challenges of democratic governance. In the future, whether Hungary can overcome its current challenges and achieve true economic recovery and social stability will be crucial.