Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Reform Party and newly elected MP for Clacton, has defended his decision to travel to the United States to support former President Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention.
Farage attended the King’s Speech in the UK on Wednesday, July 17 morning before swiftly flying out to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the event.
Trump is scheduled to deliver his acceptance speech at the convention on Thursday evening, five days after surviving an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
Farage announced his attendance at the convention to support his “friend” Trump ahead of the November election.
During an interview with News Agents host Emily Maitlis in Milwaukee on Wednesday evening, Farage was questioned about his presence at the convention. Maitlis asked why he was there, considering his recent election as Clacton’s MP.
Farage responded, “It’s been a busy day, King’s Speech this morning, and here… well I had to come, Trump, I’ve been friendly with him all these years and he’s just survived an assassination attempt so I thought I’d come and say hello.”
Maitlis reminded Farage of his commitment to his constituents in Clacton. Farage replied, “Well, I’m allowed to come to America on a trip like this, particularly under these circumstances,” and assured he would be back in the UK by the weekend.
When asked why Trump needed his support, Farage appeared defensive.
“It was right that I came … I have friends, I don’t know whether you do or not, maybe you don’t, but I have friends, and when they are having a tough time, it’s right to go and support them,” he said.
Maitlis pressed further, asking if Trump was indeed facing a tough time. Farage bluntly replied, “He nearly died,” emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
The interview, watched by over two million people on social media platform X, concluded with Farage sharing the segment and writing, “Sometimes I wonder why I bother.”
Farage, who had spoken at rallies during Trump’s 2016 campaign, commented that the attempted assassination could have turned into a “disastrous event,” criticizing the Secret Service for a “dramatic failure” in their security measures.
Watchdog Probes Secret Service
An independent, government-appointed watchdog in the US has since opened an investigation into the Secret Service’s handling of the rally’s security.
Despite being shot in the ear, Trump has re-emerged with his campaign team stating he is “fine.” He is expected to use his speech at the RNC on Thursday to call for national unity.
Meanwhile, J.D. Vance, the freshman Ohio senator who once criticized Trump but has become one of his staunchest supporters, formally accepted the nomination as Trump’s running mate on Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention.
Vance delivered a 38-minute prime-time speech, targeting swing-state voters crucial for the presidential election and control of Congress.
“This moment is not about me. It’s about all of us. It’s about who we’re fighting for,” Vance declared, with Trump watching from a special seating section inside Fiserv Forum.
“It’s about the autoworker in Michigan, wondering why out-of-touch politicians are destroying their jobs. It’s about the factory worker in Wisconsin, who makes things with their hands and is proud of American craftsmanship.”
JD Vance
As the convention continues, the focus remains on Trump’s resilience and the support he garners from his allies, both old and new.
Farage’s trip to the US, though controversial, underscores the enduring bond between the two political figures and their shared vision for the future.
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