Democracy in the United States appears to be in peril. The question remains whether interventions can prevent this decline from becoming irreversible. In the lead-up to Donald Trump’s potential return to the presidency, concerns about “Orbánization”—a term denoting the slow erosion of democracy as seen in Hungary under Viktor Orbán—were raised. In Hungary, democracy hasn’t been dismantled through violence, but rather through strategic manipulation: the electoral framework has been compromised, civil society faced suppression, and media outlets fell under the control of pro-Orbán moguls.

Fast forward nine months, and signs of Orbánization are increasingly evident across the Atlantic. Billionaire Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, along with his filmmaker son, David, has become central to this movement. Trump has openly declared his ties to them, referring to them as “big supporters.” Having invested tens of millions into Republican campaigns, Larry Ellison has been involved in discussions regarding challenges to election legitimacy following the 2020 vote. Interestingly, David has historically supported Democrats, illustrating the fluid nature of political affiliations in this new political landscape.

In August, David Ellison’s Skydance Media acquired Paramount Global with his father’s financial backing, placing him in a powerful position as chair and CEO of the new entity, which now oversees CBS News—one of America’s major networks. During the last election, Trump criticized CBS for alleged political bias, even threatening to revoke its broadcasting license. However, with the change in ownership, Trump’s tone has shifted, as he welcomed changes expected from the new leadership. This optimism was quickly supported by notable appointments, including a Trump appointee as CBS’s ombudsman to monitor perceived bias and the installation of Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief.

Furthermore, Trump administration officials are reportedly favorable towards Paramount Skydance’s potential acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, the parent company of HBO and CNN. According to sources, who owns Warner Bros Discovery is of significant concern to the administration, as they continue to perceive bias in mainstream media and seek to address it. Meanwhile, Larry Ellison is leading a consortium of investors on a bid for TikTok’s U.S. operations, aligning his interests with those of other prominent figures, including Rupert Murdoch.

While Trump has targeted TikTok for its perceived connections to China, critics within his circle have voiced concerns about the platform’s content affecting American public opinion, particularly regarding Israel. Ellison’s pro-Israeli stance includes significant financial contributions to Israeli defense initiatives, which aligns with his new role overseeing TikTok’s U.S. algorithm.

The situation transcends media acquisitions. Trump has made threats against social media mogul Mark Zuckerberg, hinting at dire consequences if he were to cross paths with the administration. Zuckerberg has attempted to mitigate these tensions by softening policies that previously garnered Trump’s ire, including scaling back fact-checking measures and appointing Trump allies to key positions within his company.

The political landscape reveals a troubling trend where Trump relies on governmental power to silence criticism. The Federal Communications Commission’s chair, a Trump supporter, has influenced programming decisions at networks like ABC, while the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has lost funding and ceased operations altogether. Furthermore, access to the White House has been restricted, as certain media outlets have been removed from the press pool.

The administration’s strategy extends into electoral concerns as well. Trump has centralized control over elections and leveraged state power to intimidate opposition, while Republicans explore new gerrymandering tactics. This scenario draws parallels to Hungary, where Orbán has similarly targeted opposition leadership and funding.

American democracy has long faced challenges, with extensive studies highlighting systemic biases favoring economic elites. The lack of historical authoritarianism has contributed to a pervasive sense of security among some; however, this complacency may have left the country vulnerable to rising authoritarianism. Over just nine months, the U.S. appears to be flirting with an authoritarian abyss, with only 39 months remaining in Trump’s current term to shape the narrative further.