In Madrid, conservative leaders from across Europe gathered for the Make Europe Great Again conference, a political rally hosted by Spain’s Vox party. The event marked the first major gathering of the Patriots for Europe bloc since Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Among the key speakers were Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, France’s Marine Le Pen, Italy’s Matteo Salvini, and Dutch politician Geert Wilders—all pushing for a shift in European politics toward nationalism and conservatism.
Orbán, a staunch Trump ally, took center stage, delivering a fiery speech that blended history, politics, and a call to arms. He reflected on his years in opposition, saying, “The road to power is paved with suffering and pain,” before urging Vox to seize its moment in Spain. Switching to Hungarian—what he jokingly called a “secret code”—he reminded the audience of centuries-old ties between Hungary and Spain, from medieval battles to the Cold War.
The Hungarian leader then turned his focus to Brussels, unleashing a blistering critique of EU elites, accusing them of weakening Europe through mass migration, reckless spending, and backing a “hopeless war” in Ukraine. “They’ve ruined Europe,” he declared. “And now they’re hunting us because we defend our nations.” He dismissed past warnings that conservative populism was doomed, citing Hungary as proof that right-wing governance can thrive.
Then, with a grin, Orbán shifted to optimism: “The Trump tornado has changed the world!” He claimed that, just weeks into Trump’s presidency, nationalist movements across Europe had gained momentum. “Yesterday, we were the heretics. Today, we are the mainstream,” he proclaimed, predicting that upcoming elections would consolidate conservative power.
Other speakers echoed the sentiment. Marine Le Pen urged Europe to follow America’s lead, saying, “The U.S. election should wake up the old continent.” Estonia’s Martin Helme declared that Trump’s victory had “thrown globalists into disarray.” Meanwhile, Salvini dismissed concerns over Trump’s proposed tariffs on EU goods, arguing that “Brussels, not Washington, is Europe’s real economic threat.”
Orbán wrapped up his speech with a parting message for Spain, referencing the myth of Europa, in which Zeus, disguised as a bull, carries off the Phoenician princess. “They’ve stolen Europe from the people,” he said, before turning to Vox leader Santiago Abascal: “You Spaniards know how to handle a raging bull. Let’s tame it together!”
With Trump back in power, the Patriots for Europe bloc sees a rare opportunity to reshape the continent. Whether their vision will translate into electoral success remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Europe’s right-wing populists are more emboldened than ever.
