First-Ever Hungarian Diaspora Meeting Held in Washington, D.C.

The first-ever nationwide Hungarian diaspora meeting in the United States was held on Friday at the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, D.C. The event was organized to coincide with the official visit of Lőrinc Nacsa, Hungary’s Secretary of State for National Policy.

During the gathering, Nacsa outlined the Hungarian government's current diaspora policies and support programs. He encouraged cooperation among Hungarian communities in the U.S., urging local organizations to hold joint celebrations and events, which the Hungarian state could help support. He emphasized that “Hungarian organizations in the diaspora are not in competition with each other, but with time, in order to preserve their heritage.”

Speaking to MTI, Nacsa highlighted the vital role diaspora leaders can play in strengthening ties between Hungary and the United States, especially under the new U.S. administration.

Hungary’s Ambassador to the United States, Szabolcs Takács, expressed the desire to make this event an annual tradition, potentially rotating locations across the U.S. He also noted that a key part of the embassy’s work involves reducing bureaucratic hurdles for Hungarian Americans , such as immigration restrictions and visa issues that have impacted even scholarship recipients under the Kőrösi Csoma Program.

The event brought together Hungarian community leaders from across the U.S., including representatives from Florida, Georgia, California, Cleveland, and Chicago.

Ildikó Pataki, North American Regional Chair of the Hungarian Diaspora Council, shared examples of recent unity among Hungarian-American groups—such as mobilization efforts to assist victims of natural disasters in Florida, the Carolinas, and California. She also spoke about upcoming initiatives for 2026, marking the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and celebrating Hungarian contributions during the United States' upcoming 250th anniversary.

Andrea Lauer Rice, President of the Hungarian American Coalition, introduced the “America250” initiative and a new youth engagement network called HYPE (Hungarian Youth Program for Engagement).

Dr. Sándor Végh, President of the Kossuth Foundation, spoke about strengthening cooperation among Hungarian groups in Washington and emphasized the need to engage younger generations to ensure sustainability.