and nothing of value was lost. What did the US get out of the relationship?

I thought that was exactly what is being talked about here.

But also influence through alliance. Even a superpower can't go it alone and use their military to bend others to its will.

Even if Trump is replaced by a Democrat, the conditions that made Trump happen are still there. That won't change from one day to the next. And don't forget he already happened twice.

10-20 years of decent administrations will make things ok again. But of course our economies will be much more decoupled by then. That process has been set in motion now and won't easily stop. That can start going the other way again but things will have to meaningfully change then over time.

As for Hungary I still don't trust them as far as I can throw them. I would have been happy to bump them back to candidate EU member during the Orban reign and let them prove themselves. Don't forget this Magyar guy is still super conservative. Just less anti EU. But unfortunately EU law didn't provide for the ability to throw a country out. That was a huge oversight.

Btw. You can ask Canadian people what they thought about their annexation threats.

When I was young there was still a lot of ill will and distrust against the Germans and that was 40+ years after the war.

We were still joking about wanting our bikes back (the nazis stole everything metal at the end of the war to make weapons). And didn't like them at beach resorts etc. People would much rather buy American than German products.

That's over now but it took a very long time. Which was exactly my point. Time and consistently good politics will heal this but time it will take.

Of course the sooner you turn things around the better but the disconnection has already been set in motion and big ships turn slowly.

Unless Europeans can never trust Hungary again and move away from them at lightspeed, I'm smelling hypocrisy.

And yes I don't trust Hungary.

Does that really matter? They can not un-member it. And if current economic situation persists you will find more with the Orban like thinking.