Paige Ex GOP 🌻🇺🇸🦅

Russia has learned that weakening a democracy from within can be more effective than attacking it from across a border. In Hungary, Viktor Orbán discredited independent journalists, portrayed critical reporting as foreign propaganda, weakened judicial independence and filled state institutions with loyalists. Political opponents became enemies of the nation. Corruption flourished, democratic accountability declined and billions in EU funding were frozen. In Slovakia, Robert Fico attacked journalists, accused independent media of spreading lies, dismantled anti-corruption institutions and portrayed political opponents as threats to national security. Meanwhile, his government maintained friendly relations with Moscow. In the United States, Donald Trump brands critical journalism “fake news,” attacks judges, targets universities, demands institutional loyalty and portrays political opponents as enemies of the country. His administration has weakened international alliances while repeatedly advancing positions advantageous to Moscow. In Georgia, the ruling party accused independent organisations of serving foreign interests, restricted media freedoms, suppressed demonstrations and used legislation to silence critics. Democratic institutions deteriorated as the country’s European integration stalled. In Moldova, Russian-backed networks spread fabricated news, financed political movements, manipulated public opinion and attempted to undermine elections. Different countries. The same destructive patterns. Discredit the press. Attack the courts. Replace independent officials with loyalists. Demonise opponents. Undermine elections. Turn allies into enemies. The Kremlin does not need to conquer every democracy. It benefits when democracies destroy themselves from within.