Trump meets Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage in London

President Trump met Tuesday with Nigel Farage, the controversial leader of the United Kingdom’s Brexit Party.

Farage was spotted by a Reuters photographer arriving at about 4:20 p.m. local time at Winfield House in London, the U.S. ambassador’s residence where Trump is staying during his state visit. Roughly an hour later, Farage tweeted that the two men had a “good meeting.”

“Good meeting with President Trump — he really believes in Brexit and is loving his trip to London,” Farage tweeted.

Good meeting with President Trump – he really believes in Brexit and is loving his trip to London.

— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) June 4, 2019

Here’s the picture: pic.twitter.com/bNnVFSslAk

— Reuters UK Politics (@ReutersLobby) June 4, 2019

{mosads}Trump has expressed fondness for Farage, a vocal advocate for the Brexit movement and a Trump supporter during the 2016 presidential campaign. The Brexit Party earned roughly 31 percent of the popular vote during the most recent European Parliament elections.

In an interview with The Sunday Times before arriving in London, Trump suggested Farage be tapped to lead Brexit negotiations moving forward.

The president had said leading up to his state visit that he might meet with Farage and ex-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. While Farage is not in contention to serve as the next prime minister, Johnson is among the front-runners to replace Theresa May as leader of the Conservative Party.

The president spoke with Johnson by phone on Tuesday morning. Johnson told Trump in the 20-minute call that he had a previous commitment and could not see the president during his three-day state visit, according to British network ITV.

Trump acknowledged the call during a joint news conference with May later Tuesday, but did not comment on what he and Johnson discussed. The president has caused controversy by wading into the prime minister contest with praise for Johnson and other candidates.

He also turned down a meeting with Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, a frequent critic of Trump who is planning to attend protests against the president’s visit.

“I think that people should look to do things correctly as opposed to criticize,” the president said of Corbyn during the press conference. “I really don’t like critics as much as I like and respect people who get things done.”