NEW YORK, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Leading Brexit campaigner and UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage visited U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at his home in New York City on Saturday and a Trump aide said the pair had a “very productive” meeting.
“We’re just tourists!” Farage joked with reporters after he was seen waiting for an elevator in the skyscraper’s lobby.
In brief comments later to reporters, Kellyanne Conway, manager of Trump’s election campaign, confirmed the pair met while the president-elect was upstairs in the Trump Tower, enjoying time with his family, receiving phone calls and visitors.
“I think they enjoy each other’s company, and they actually had a chance to talk about freedom and winning and what this all means for the world,” Conway said of the Farage meeting.
A day after Trump’s election victory, Farage told a British radio station he was “absolutely happy” and called on the U.S. real estate mogul to reverse “loathsome” Barack Obama’s policy by making Britain his top priority.
He also joked about sexual assault allegations against Trump, urging him to “schmooze” British Prime Minister Theresa May - but not touch her. He said he could attend any meeting to be the “responsible adult to make sure everything is OK.”
Farage has told the BBC he is willing to help May’s government build bridges with the U.S. president-elect, and one UKIP official has suggested Farage be the next British ambassador to the United States.
Farage, who spoke at a Trump rally during the election campaign, had predicted the former reality TV host would tap into the same dissatisfaction among voters that led to Britain deciding on June 23 to leave the European Union, or Brexit.
Trump made repeated references to Brexit during his campaign, saying it had highlighted the desire for change among voters frustrated with traditional politics.
(Reporting by Reuters TV; Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Dan Grebler)
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