Hungary has long warned that foreign interest groups use certain media outlets and NGOs as political tools to influence society. Recent revelations confirm these concerns more clearly than ever, according to Zoltán Kovács, State Secretary for International Communications and Relations in the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office. In a Facebook post on Monday, Kovács highlighted how the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has quietly supported thousands of journalists and media outlets worldwide to promote a specific ideological agenda aligned with left-liberal interests.

USAID’s Role in Media Funding

Kovács claimed that USAID’s efforts support mass migration while opposing governments that challenge globalist initiatives. He pointed out that Hungary, along with other European countries like Poland, has been affected by these funding mechanisms. He also noted that the influence of these funds extends beyond the media, impacting political and social narratives in these nations.

The Shift from Washington to Brussels

According to Kovács, former U.S. President Donald Trump temporarily halted these funding flows by imposing a 90-day aid moratorium, which disrupted USAID’s media financing operations. However, funding was soon redirected from Washington to Brussels, with European institutions stepping in to maintain the financial support.

Liberal Member of the European Parliament Daniel Freund has openly stated that Brussels should continue USAID’s financing mechanisms. Reports confirm that the European Union aims to support pro-migration and sovereignty-opposing media using European funds.

Hungary’s Firm Stand Against Foreign Interference

Kovács reiterated that Hungary has long warned against foreign-funded media and NGOs meddling in domestic politics. Intelligence reports from 2022 revealed that such organizations actively supported opposition parties during elections. With U.S. funds now flowing through Brussels, these efforts persist under a different structure but with the same objectives.

Hungary’s position is clear: foreign interference in national politics will not be tolerated. The government maintains that externally funded NGOs and media outlets should not influence Hungary’s democratic processes. Kovács concluded by suggesting that other European nations must decide whether to resist foreign influence or allow Brussels to become the new center of political manipulation.

USAID’s Expanding Influence

Originally established for humanitarian and development aid, USAID has now become one of the most influential media-funding organizations. Official records indicate that under President Joe Biden, USAID has financed numerous media-focused NGOs, many of which function as lobbying groups rather than independent press outlets. This shift has raised concerns about the broader geopolitical implications of media financing by foreign entities.

Source: Magyar Hírlap