Liberal U.S. mayors team up with European counterparts to fight authoritarianism

U.S. Mayors Join European Municipal Group for Annual Meeting on Local Governance

Lacey Beaty, mayor of Beaverton, Ore., represented one of the U.S. cities that recently joined the Pact of Free Cities for its recent meeting in Bratislava, Slovakia. In the background (from left to right) are Omar Al-Rawi, member of the Vienna City Council; Audrey Pulvar, deputy mayor of Paris; Gergely Karácsony, mayor of Budapest; and Rafał Trzaskowski, mayor of Warsaw.

Courtesy of the city of Bratislava

Right-wing political figures in the U.S. have developed connections with counterparts in Europe over multiple years. Former President Donald Trump maintained contact with former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during and after his term. In 2025, ten mayors from U.S. cities including Boston, Chicago, San Antonio, and Cincinnati participated in the Pact of Free Cities, either virtually or in person, during its annual gathering in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval stated that participation stemmed from actions by the Trump administration regarding federal funding allocations and international partnerships. The mayors of Bratislava, Budapest, Prague, and Warsaw established the group in 2019. Participants discussed approaches to managing relations with national governments on matters such as budget distributions and regulatory policies.

Budapest Mayor Describes Local Response to National Policies

At the meeting, Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony described events in Hungary involving national government measures on public events. He noted that the government had sought to restrict the annual Pride parade in Budapest. City officials instead organized the event around questions of assembly rights, resulting in large attendance. Karácsony attributed subsequent electoral outcomes in Hungary to these developments and other factors, including economic conditions. Hungarian national elections occurred in 2026, with results reported by Hungarian election authorities showing a change in government leadership after Orbán’s prior terms.

Local Officials Discuss Funding and Service Delivery

Lacey Beaty, mayor of Beaverton, Ore., attended the Bratislava sessions. She described exchanges on topics including federal funding decisions that affect municipal programs. Beaty referenced instances where the Trump administration proposed reductions in certain grants to jurisdictions maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Similar disputes have arisen in other cities over compliance with federal priorities on spending and program content.

Karácsony outlined parallel situations in Budapest, where national authorities conditioned support for municipal services such as waste collection on alignment with central policies. Budapest officials placed informational notices on city vehicles to inform residents about the funding disagreements. Beaty indicated that clear public communication helps residents distinguish between local and national responsibilities during such disputes.

White House Response and Broader Context

The White House issued a statement through spokeswoman Abigail Jackson regarding the mayors’ participation. The statement noted that local officials should focus on public safety and city services rather than international gatherings. It characterized the event as unrelated to core municipal duties.

Cross-border political exchanges have occurred on multiple sides. The Conservative Political Action Conference has held sessions involving European participants for over ten years. CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp referenced discussions with figures such as Nigel Farage of Reform UK concerning approaches to immigration policy and electoral strategy. Farage’s party achieved gains in recent UK local elections. Schlapp observed that U.S. cities face distinct challenges including crime rates and homelessness statistics tracked by federal agencies.

CPAC organized multiple events in Budapest. Schlapp commented that European participants might observe operational differences in U.S. municipal management but that organizational efforts by mayors could strengthen local political bases.

Meeting Logistics and Participant Exchanges

The Pact of Free Cities sessions took place in the Hall of Mirrors at the Primate’s Palace in Bratislava. Attendees reviewed case studies from various cities on service delivery, public messaging, and intergovernmental relations. More than forty municipalities have participated in the group since its formation. Discussions covered measurable outcomes such as budget impacts and resident feedback on local programs.

U.S. participants described the value of comparing administrative practices across borders. European mayors presented data on urban infrastructure and regulatory compliance. No formal agreements or joint policy statements were issued at the conclusion of the meeting. Follow-up contacts among staff were planned to continue information sharing on topics including procurement, public safety metrics, and grant administration.

Additional context on the policy areas mentioned includes documented federal reviews of DEI-related expenditures under the current administration and Hungarian national legislation on public assemblies passed in prior years. Election results in Hungary were certified by the National Election Office and reflected shifts in parliamentary majorities.