Nigel Farage has been hired by the American Fox News Channel as a pundit, it was announced today.

The former Ukip leader will offer 'political analysis' across the network - one of the most-watched news channels in the US. He already has his own nightly show on UK radio station LBC.

Mr Farage has become an increasingly visible figure in America since Donald Trump was elected President in November and has appeared on US TV numerous times.

And within seconds of Mr Trump finishing his inauguration speech tonight, Mr Farage praised him on Twitter, writing: 'A very strong speech...he means it.'

Nigel Farage was in a jubilant mood as he celebrated Donald Trump's inauguration as US President in Washington

Nigel Farage, pictured at a Trump inauguration celebration party in Washington DC last night, has been hired by the American Fox News Channel as a pundit, it was announced today

Nigel Farage praised Donald Trump's inauguration speech seconds after he finished. The former Ukip leader attended the ceremony in Washington DC

The new US President and Mr Farage was the first British politician to meet the Republican after his election victory.

Mr Farage, who the US President calls 'Mr Brexit', is in Washington today to attend the inauguration.

The channel said in a statement today: 'FOX News Channel (FNC) has signed former United Kingdom Independence Party Leader (UKIP) Nigel Farage as a contributor.

'In this role, he will offer political analysis across FNC and FOX Business Network’s (FBN) daytime and primetime programming.'

Last night Mr Farage and the other members of the so-called 'Bad Boys of Brexit' hosted their first boozy Washington DC party ahead of Mr Trump's inauguration.

The former Ukip leader, who was the first British politician to meet Mr Trump after his election win, toasted the billionaire tycoon in front of a rowdy crowd.

He said: 'Brexit was great but Trump becoming president is Brexit plus, plus, plus. He is the only man I've ever met in my life who has made me feel like an introvert'.

Bad Boys of Brexit: Nigel Farage is joined by Andy Wigmore, Lord Ashcroft, Governor of Mississippi Phil Bryant and Arron Banks outside their Washington party last night

Friends: Lord Ashcroft, Governor Bryant, Judge Jeanine Pirro, Mr Farage and Andy Wigmore pose up

Guests at the DC drinks party were handed mini portions of fish and chips at the British organised event

Earlier he posed with Lord Ashcroft, Governor of Mississippi Phil Bryant and Arron Banks outside the historic Mayflower Hotel in the city last night.

Mr Farage later attended a lavish party at the five-star Hay-Adams Hotel on Thursday evening to celebrate Mr Trump's inauguration.

The 400 guests at the British-hosted event, which included around 100 US politicians, were handed Champagne and mini portions of fish and chips.

In a speech to the packed room he said: 'Brexit was great but Trump becoming president is Brexit plus, plus, plus. He was right when he said it was a movement - but a movement can't exist, or flourish, without a leader. And Trump is the only man I've ever met in my life who has made me feel like an introvert.

The view of the White House from the Bad Boys of Brexit party - another party on Saturday could be attended by President Trump

'He is a larger than life personality. When he was given the rule book for how you run for president he tore up the book and threw it out of the window. And I guess, when I look back in the years to come, perhaps the greatest joy of 2016 was that realisation, as state after state in the mid-West went red, just to see the faces of those democrats.

'I've spent most my life in politics being regarded, I suppose, as the patron saint of lost causes.

Judge Jeanine Pirro poses next to a pile of Bad Boys of Brexit books

'Through most of my life, what happens in America in terms of social trends or developments, we follow four or five years later. America is the leader. Now I would like to think in my own little way that what we did with Brexit was the beginning of what is going to turn out to be a global revolution and that Trump's victory is a part of that'.

Mr Farage said: 'We've had Brexit and perhaps that contributed just a little bit to things changing in the USA and who's to say that bandwagon won't continue to roll in 2017 across much of Europe.'

He will attend Mr Trump’s inauguration later today.

It came as Mr Farage said Donald Trump's inauguration will be historic because it marks a 'significant change in direction' for America.

The former Ukip leader is attending the ceremony in Washington DC, where Mr Trump arrived on Thursday as he prepares to be sworn in as US president.

After arriving in the US capital, Mr Farage said: 'I get a sense of the history, and that this particular inauguration is a very significant one because in so many areas it marks a significant change in direction. I'm very excited about it.

Mr Farage was reportedly hosting last night's event with Ukip donor Arron Banks, but he insisted he was a guest and said Mr Trump was not expected to show up.

'It's to celebrate the fact that in 2016 we saw this dramatic change in politics,' he said.

'I suppose the party is the international dimension in all this'.

Mr Farage was a guest of Mr Bryant after the US politician invited him to attend a Trump rally in Jackson, Mississippi in August.

Mr Trump hailed Mr Farage as a 'great guy' during an interview with The Times earlier this week.

Lord Ashcroft posted this picture of the party, whose guests also heard a speech from Mr Farage

Nigel Farage poses with Ted Malloch, who is tipped as leading candidate to become Donald Trump's ambassador to the EU promises 'game-changing'

Farage with Brexiteers including Leave backer Aaron Banks (centre blue suit), Andy Wigmore (far left), Michael Ashcroft (second left)

Mr Farage will attend a lavish party at the five-star Hay-Adams Hotel on Thursday evening to celebrate Mr Trump's inauguration

Mr Farage is attending the inauguration ceremony on Friday as a guest of Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, who first invited him to a Trump rally in Jackson, in the state back in August.

Mr Trump hailed Mr Farage as a 'great guy' during an interview with The Times earlier this week.

Inauguration events started on Thursday when Mr Trump and Vice President elect Mike Pence laid wreaths at the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Watched by Mr Trump's family they placed a wreath in front of the Tomb of the Unknowns, which commemorates the nation's unidentified war dead.

A concert - dubbed the Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration - is due to take place at the Lincoln Memorial later.

Country stars Lee Greenwood and Toby Keith and rock band 3 Doors Down will perform at the event amid reports Mr Trump has struggled to attract famous names to take part.

Broadway star Jennifer Holliday pulled out of the concert, citing concerns raised by fans from the LGBT community.