MS NOW’s Joe Scarborough called on Republicans Wednesday to “wake up” after reporting suggested that President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin were “freaking out” over what polls suggest will be a decisive election loss for Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian prime minister who’s faced scrutiny for having eroded democratic institutions.
Trump and Orbán have long had a “chummy” relationship due to their mutual support for anti-immigration and nationalist policies, but according to recent polling, Orbán appears on track to lose in Hungary’s elections, scheduled to be held on April 12, the news of which has, according to Scarborough, sparked panic within the Trump administration.
“Vladimir Putin, [Russian Foreign Minister] Sergey Lavrov, [Secretary of State] Marco Rubio and Donald Trump, all desperately working to try to hold up a man's political career who works day and night to undermine western democracy, and to help Vladimir Putin, and that of course is Orbán, who has an election coming up,” Scarborough said. “Right now, both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are freaking out that Orbán, this illiberal thug, might actually lose!”
Scarborough went on to issue a plea to Republicans – notably Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who on Tuesday boasted about a clay pigeon shooting trip he took to Edgefield County, South Carolina – to intervene in Trump’s efforts to secure a victory for Orbán, which include a public endorsement and direct pleas to Hungarians.
“Wake up, Republicans!” Scarborough said. “Maybe take a break from shooting clays in Edgefield County and actually be a patriot and push back on the president supporting an illiberal thug who's helping Vladimir Putin.”
