Trump has moved to gut the federal government, fire critics and reward allies – a path similar to ‘would-be dictators’ like Orbán, experts say

A pitiless crackdown on on illegal immigration. A hardline approach to law and order. A purge of “gender ideology” and “wokeness” from the nation’s schools. Erosions of academic freedom, judicial independence and the free press. An alliance with Christian nationalism. An assault on democratic institutions.

The “electoral autocracy” that is Viktor Orbán’s Hungary has been long revered by Donald Trump and his “Make America Great Again” (Maga) movement. Now admiration is turning into emulation. In the early weeks of Trump’s second term as US president, analysts say, there are alarming signs that the Orbánisation of America has begun.

  • TheCriticalMember@aussie.zoneEnglish
    14·
    4 hours ago

    The land of the free is fast becoming a human rights wasteland. I’m still reeling from the sheer number of people who seemingly had no idea it was going to be exactly like this.

    I’m really hoping this will be the wake up call America needed to get its shit together, because if they don’t, the oligarchs aren’t going to stop there. They’re coming for everything eventually.

    • Ulvain@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      4·
      1 hour ago

      Sorry to be a Debbie Downer but no fucking way it’s a wakeup call: the majority of Americans have no idea of the nauseating stuff that makes you feel like you’re having a stroke in the middle of the twilight zone. The level of curated 100% individualized echo chambers everyone around you is exposed to is massively underestimated. Everyone is in an algorithmiclly designed, perpetually-improving news and info echosystem basically designed to keep them engaged and hooked… They DONT SEE WHAT YOU SEE… How do you wake them up if you don’t share the same reality?

    • NOT_RICK@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      3 hours ago

      I thought January 6th could be a come to Jesus moment for us, but seeing how quickly people absolved Trump and the rest of the Republican enablers has made it clear we’re fucked, in my opinion. Shit, he pardoned people that assaulted cops. The law only applies for some. Fucking depressing.