President-Elect Donald Trump’s suggestion that Nigel Farage should become the British ambassador to the US has sparked a fierce reaction online.
Trump’s late-night tweet mentioning “many” people want to see Farage as the UK’s most senior diplomat in Washington was warmly welcomed by the interim Ukip leader on Tuesday.
But this prompted people to point out a startling hypocrisy.
Welcoming Trump’s words, Farage wrote on ‘alt-right’ website Breitbart that the president-elect’s tweet ‘came like a bolt from the blue’.
He continued: “I can still scarcely believe that he did that though speaking to a couple of his long time friends perhaps I am a little less surprised.
“They all say the same thing: that Trump is a very loyal man and supports those that stand by him.”
But it was Farage’s reaction to current President Barack Obama’s intervention during this year’s EU referendum campaign that contrasted most harshly with his warm words on Tuesday.
In March, Farage described Obama as “anti-British” over his comments on Britain’s place in the EU.
He said at the time: “American presidents by precedent don’t get involved or comment on general elections and nor should they with a referendum of this magnitude.”
It comes as reaction to Trump’s tweet reached fever pitch on Tuesday morning.