Trump wades in again, urges Farage and Johnson to unite

Donald Trump has again urged Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage to unite to safeguard prospects for expanded US-UK trade.

Nigel Farage, leader of the Brexit Party. Picture: BBC

US President Donald Trump has again waded into British politics, urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage to come together to safeguard prospects for expanded US-UK trade.

Mr Farage on Sunday said he would not run for a seat in parliament in Britain’s election on December 12, focusing instead on campaigning against Mr Johnson’s EU divorce deal.

The election was called because of an impasse in parliament over Brexit, more than three years after voters decided to leave the bloc.

Asked which British leader he supported, Mr Trump said: “I like them both. I think Boris will get it right. They’re both friends of mine. What I’d like to see is for Nigel and Boris to come together. I think that’s a possibility.”

Mr Trump said Britain’s exit from the EU must be structured to facilitate continued trade between Britain and the US.

“We’re far and away the No 1 economy in the world, and if you do it a certain way, we’re prohibited from trading with the UK,” he said. “That would be very bad for the UK, because we can do much more business (than the) EU.”

Mr Trump first commented on Britain’s election campaign last week, telling Mr Farage in a radio interview that the leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, would be “so bad” for Britain if he won. Mr Trump also floated the idea that Mr Johnson and Mr Farage could combine forces.

“If you and he get together it’s, you know, unstoppable force,” he told Mr Farage.

Mr Farage responded by saying he would be “right behind” Mr Johnson, on condition the Prime Minister dropped the Brexit divorce deal he struck with the EU and instead went for a “clean break” Brexit without a deal.

Reuters