Diplomatic Shifts: U.S. Ambassador Pressman Announces Departure

The U.S. ambassador to Hungary spoke publicly at an event on Tuesday that he will end his ambassadorship in mid-January, writes Magyar Nemzet. The announcement was made in a U.S. Embassy newsletter on Wednesday.

Traditionally, before the inauguration of a new president, U.S. ambassadors tender their resignations, and the second-in-command of the embassies, the Charge d’Affaires, run the U.S. missions until the new ambassador arrives.

According to the Hungarian Conservative, following Donald Trump’s landslide victory,

there are three possible candidates to succeed Pressman as ambassador, who will be appointed by Trump: Nancy Brinker, David Cornstein and Bryan Leib.

@USAmbHungary‘s carrier in #Budapest is coming to an end. Who will be the next #US Ambassador to #Hungary? @BryanLeibFL is among the top candidates!https://t.co/z4HvU9mahE pic.twitter.com/mAMxZDkQT4

— Hungarian Conservative (@hu_conservative) November 15, 2024

FactNancy Brinker
Nancy Brinker previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. Known for her philanthropic and human rights advocacy, she took the initiative to light up the Chain Bridge in Budapest in pink to promote breast cancer awareness. Her contributions earned her the Hungarian Order of Merit.

David Cornstein
David Cornstein, U.S. Ambassador to Hungary from 2018 to 2020 during Donald Trump’s presidency, maintained close ties with Viktor Orbán’s government. Unlike Pressman, Cornstein supported Orbán’s policies, often amplifying Hungarian government positions, including calls to end the war in Ukraine. His tenure was marked by praise for Hungary’s economic progress and immigration policies.

Bryan Leib
Bryan Leib represents a younger generation of diplomats with strong ties to Hungarian-American relations. Though he has not served as ambassador, Leib is a former Florida congressional candidate and is associated with the Center for Fundamental Rights in Budapest. Critical of Pressman’s approach, Leib openly expresses his ambition to strengthen bilateral ties, declaring, “It’s time to make US-Hungarian Relations Great Again!“

Once again, activist David Pressman uses his post in #Budapest to rail against @PM_ViktorOrban with this unhinged rant. The Hungarian people and government can rest assured that whomever President-Elect Trump selects as his next Ambassador to Hungary will be the polar opposite of… https://t.co/N5Bdmc5kvR pic.twitter.com/cxJH8KDxR8

— Bryan E. Leib (@BryanLeibFL) November 7, 2024

Pressman assumed his role as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary on September 14, 2022, after being nominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. With Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States on November 5, it became apparent that Pressman’s tenure as ambassador would likely be brief.

Since his appointment, Pressman has frequently criticized the Hungarian government, often crossing traditional diplomatic boundaries.

He notably condemned Viktor Orbán’s social media support for former President Donald Trump, with whom Prime Minister Orbán shares a close relationship. Pressman also drew parallels between Hungary and the Kremlin, following Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó’s rebuttal of U.S. concerns over judicial independence, press freedom, and corruption in Hungary.

The U.S. diplomat has intervened in Hungarian domestic matters on several occasions.

Related articleOffice for the Protection of Sovereignty Comes to the Help of Confused US Ambassador

This year's Pride month did not pass without a statement from the US ambassador against the Hungarian government.Continue reading

Via Magyar Nemzet; Featured image via Facebook/US Embassy Budapest

The post Diplomatic Shifts: U.S. Ambassador Pressman Announces Departure appeared first on Hungary Today.