18:19

Nigel Farage, the former leader of the UK Independence Party, has endorsed Steve Bannon’s attack on the media but declined to say whether he will meet the White House chief strategist during the conference.

“The truth of it is that too much of the establishment broadcast media in particular has effectively become wedded to this form of global social democracy that we’ve lived through for the last 20 years and I think there are genuinely questions about impartiality with a series of major broadcasters right across the west,” Farage told the Guardian.

“Trump does it in his own remarkable way but you know, public trust in these organisations has collapsed.”

Farage said he has known Bannon for “many years” but, when asked whether they had talked here, he replied cryptically: “I can’t remember.”

The Brexit leader also attended last year’s Republican national convention in Cleveland and joined Trump on the campaign trail. Trump tweeted that he would make a great British ambassador to the US.

Farage, who put money on a Trump victory, said: “I think it’s a wonderful refreshing change to see someone who’s been elected who’s absolutely intent on putting his platform into policy. That I like. Clearly there have been some frustrations. As a self-made man who’s done his own thing for the last 50 years, he’s not going to find that easy. He’s used to making big decisions and whether it goes well or badly, the buck stops with him. It’s tough.”

Asked about Trump’s travel bans, which led to chaos and protests at airports, Farage replied: “I just don’t get the hypocrisy of all you people. Sixteen countries ban Jews [actually Israelis] going into them, you don’t say a dicky bird. This man says for 90 days he’s going to put a temporary suspension on while he looks at the vetting rules – and by the way, America’s vetting rules are quite strict already, interestingly – working out whether it’s right or not, and it’s being portrayed amongst elements in the media and by many in western politics as if it’s some sort of road to fascism or something awful.

“I just frankly think it’s the most massively over the top reaction. Now obviously he’s got caught up in legal complexity; he’s going to come back and have another try.”

Farage also dismissed persistent allegations about the Trump campaign’s connections with Russia. “It’s been interfering in every election the world for the last hundred years, as indeed America has, so this is what goes on. It doesn’t mean it’s right or good; it’s the reality. Countries spy on each other, companies spy on each other. That’s the way it works.

“Now, the interesting thing is how does his policy apropos Russia take shape? What’s it going to be? And it’s clear there are differing views in the administration as to what the approach to Russia is, but what I do firmly think is that he will meet Putin and he will attempt to forge a better understanding between the west and Putin. Goodness me, absolutely right as far as I’m concerned.”