U.S. Mayors Join Pact of Free Cities

Ten U.S. mayors from liberal cities, including United States — Boston>>>, United States — Chicago>>>, United States — San Antonio>>>, and United States — Cincinnati>>>, have joined the Pact of Free Cities>>>, an international alliance founded in 2019 by the mayors of Slovakia — Bratislava>>>, Budapest Pride>>>, Czech Republic — Prague>>>, and Poland — Warsaw>>>. The group aims to share strategies on defending democracy and fighting authoritarianism, particularly in response to perceived hostile national governments. United States — Cincinnati>>> Mayor Aftab Pureval>>> cited actions by the Donald Trump>>> administration as a reason for joining. At a recent meeting in Slovakia — Bratislava>>>, Budapest Pride>>> Mayor Gergely Karácsony>>> shared lessons from the recent defeat of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán>>>, whose authoritarian tactics are seen as influencing Donald Trump>>>. Challenges discussed included federal funding cuts to cities with liberal policies, such as United States — Beaverton, Oregon>>> under the Donald Trump>>> administration, and similar pressures faced by Budapest Pride>>> from Viktor Orbán>>>'s government. The United States — White House>>>, through spokeswoman Abigail Becker>>>, dismissed the mayors' actions as 'publicity stunts'. This initiative mirrors efforts by groups like the Conservative Political Action Conference to build international ties with like-minded politicians, though with opposing ideologies.