Nigel Farage: Don't demonise Trump, it's not in the national interest
2 December 2019, 08:23
Nigel Farage has said it is a "great mistake" for politicians to demonise Donald Trump before accusing politicians of putting their hatred of the President ahead of the national interest.
The Brexit Party leader clashed with politicians during a seven-way election debate hosted by ITV ahead of the President arriving the UK for a meeting of NATO leaders.
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said: “The last thing we should have done is to roll out the red carpet for a state visit."
She added the President did not share British values.
But Nigel Farage said while some of Mr Trump's comments were crass, he added "men say dreadful things at times."
Mr Farage said: “It was crass and it was crude and it was wrong – men say dreadful things sometimes. If all of us were called out for what we did on a night out after a drink, none of us would ...” he said.
In a world exclusive, LBC spoke with President Trump earlier this year.
The eurosceptic politician was interrupted by Ms Swinson who said: “Is that what you do on a night out after a drink?”
Mr Farage replied: “He is president of the USA and that relationship matters.
“You are so anti-American you are prepared to put your hatred of Trump above our national interest.
“That is a great mistake.”
Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said Mr Farage was wrong to defend the US president.
“It can never be acceptable for a man to talk about grabbing a woman’s pussy. If you think it is you should be ashamed of yourself,” he said.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Boris Johnson was trying to pursue the same “strong man” tactics of the president.
“That in my view is not what the UK or any it needs. Donald Trump’s attitudes are wrong and they are dangerous.
“In Boris Johnson, we have got somebody who is trying to be like him,” she said.
For Labour shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon said: “Our quarrel and difference is with some of the policies of Donald Trump who, like Boris Johnson, is a politician who has given the green light to sexism, homophobia and racism and that cannot be allowed to flourish.”
