Former U.K. Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage declared Saturday morning that he is willing to help President-elect Trump in any way he can, saying he would advise him “formally or informally” to help bring the U.S. and Great Britain closer together.
“I would like formally or informally to do whatever I can to bring our great nations a bit closer together,” Farage told CNN’s Michael Smerconish, adding, that he knows “a few people in his administration.”
“I’ve clearly got Trump’s confidence,” he added.
Farage, who led UKIP until early July following the “Brexit” referendum, argued that the relationship between Britain and the U.S. has been “devalued” during President Obama’s eight years in office.
“I do think the special relationship is very important. It was significantly devalued during Obama’s time,” he told CNN. “Post-Brexit we got a chance to start all over again with a president in Trump, who is Anglophile. He is pro-British. He knows the things we’ve shared together over the years — the good and the bad.”
Farage campaigned with Trump only months before the Nov. 8 election, appearing with him in Mississippi. About a week before the appearance with Farage, Trump dubbed himself “Mr. Brexit” and predicted later on a win on the scale of “Brexit times five.”
He also called for a new trade deal between the U.S. and Britain, which he argued could also “send a signal” to the European Union that other nations can manage trade outside of the body.
“I want us to move as quickly as we can towards a free trade deal between the U.K. and the USA that would be good for both of us,” he said. “That would also send a signal to the European Union that there’s a bigger world outside of the European Union, and Britain can manage just nicely.”
