Nigel Farage says he is honored President-elect Donald Trump pitched him to be the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the U.S.
“I’m very flattered by what Mr. Trump has had to say,” Farage told The Guardian in Strasbourg, France, on Tuesday.
{mosads}
“It’s interesting, isn’t it? He’s from the world of business, and in business, people work on trust — not a commodity you see much in politics.”
Farage, though, said only British leaders could decide if he should get the post.
“This is entirely up to the British government,” the interim leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party said. “The ball is in their court, not mine.
“If they assess that I could be some value and perhaps I could build some bridges between Mr. Trump — and indeed, many members of his team, who I know well — if they think that’s in the national interest, then I can do something constructive.”
Farage lead the campaign for Britain to exit the European Union.
He said Trump’s victory would boost U.S.-U.K. relations.
“We voted for Brexit, America voted for Trump,” said Farage. “We’ve got a Europhile going on Jan. 20 into the Oval Office.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our country in terms of business, in terms of jobs and in terms of our renegotiation with the European Union,” he added.
Trump tweeted late Monday that Farage would do “a great job” serving as U.K. ambassador to the U.S.
The British government on Tuesday, however, poured cold water on the idea.
“There is no vacancy for that position,” British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said in Parliament.
Kim Darroch took on the role of ambassador to the U.S. in January. The post is viewed as crucial for maintaining the “special relationship” between the United States and the U.K.
Reports emerged Monday that Trump also voiced opposition to wind farms in the U.K. during his first post-election meeting with Farage.
Trump has long been against a wind farm constructed near his golf course in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, even fighting unsuccessfully all the way to Great Britain’s highest court to block it.
The president-elect’s business empire is facing new scrutiny after his election victory, with critics questioning the potential for conflicts of interest in the Trump White House.