Tucker Carlson Flies to Budapest to Apologize on Behalf of U.S.
Tucker Carlson delivered a speech in Budapest apologizing on behalf of the United States over U.S. ambassador David Pressman's critique of the country's latest anti-LGBTQ+ crackdown.Conservatives such as Carlson tout Hungary as an example of a successful right-wing government, but human rights watchers have raised concerns about democratic backsliding under the rule of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
The government has passed a number of measures in recent years weakening political opposition, violating European Union (EU) laws surrounding migrant rights, and targeting the rights of minority groups such as the LGBTQ+ community.The Hungarian parliament also passed legislation that banned certain LGBTQ+ content and a measure that would allow citizens to report some same-sex couples to authorities.
However, Hungarian President Katalin Novák vetoed the measure, as it would violate EU law and stir global concerns about the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals in the country.Pressman, a human rights lawyer, has used his office to try to advance LGBTQ+ rights in Hungary.
According to the Washington Blade, Pressman called out Hungarian lawmakers for attempting to pass this law during a Pride event in Budapest in June."It is impossible not to see echoes of this in your Parliament's vote earlier this year to encourage neighbors to report to the authorities their gay neighbors raising children.
