'Bye bye, Viktor!' Internet erupts as Trump-endorsed far-right leader loses election

The internet erupted on Sunday after a Trump-backed autocrat lost a high-stakes election.

Viktor Orbán, a strongman and staunch Russian ally who has led Hungary for the last 16 years, conceded defeat to opposition party leader Peter Magyar in the country's national election. Orbán has been a symbol of the rise of the far right across Europe as he sought to roll back the country's democratic reforms.

Orbán lost the election despite U.S. Vice President JD Vance traveling to the country to campaign for him. President Donald Trump also endorsed Orbán in multiple Truth Social posts.

Orbán described his loss as "painful," according to a report from the Associated Press.

Political analysts and observers reacted to the news on social media.

"Bye bye Viktor!" former Republican lawmaker Adam Kinzinger posted on X. "MAGA hero is gone."

"Voters in Hungary said no to a strong man. We can do it too," legal expert Joyce Vance posted on X.

"I’m incredibly obsessed with JD Vance sinking Victor Orban," political commentator Molly Jong-Fast posted on Bluesky.

"Off with you, you fascist Putin puppet," author Paul Kemp posted on Bluesky.

"The return of Trump has been dreadful news for hard-right politicians around the world, and now they're disrespecting him by accepting electoral defeat," Larry the Cat, who lives at the U.K. Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street, posted on X.