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The former Ukip leader said the chief eurocrat did “not understand” the difference between the European project and the United States after he made the outlandish remarks in a speech today. Addressing the annual conference of his centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) in Malta, Mr Juncker said he would campaign for Ohio and Texas to leave the US if Mr Trump did not change his tune towards the EU. A spokesman for the bloc later said that the remarks were not meant to be taken literally, but also tellingly did not try to pass them off as humorous and insisted the EU chief was making a serious comparison.

The comments provoked controversy globally after being reported by express.co.uk and come at a time when relations between Brussels and Washington are still tense over the Republican’s eurosceptic views. They are also likely to be met with some bemusement by US diplomats, given that the new administration has done little in recent weeks to draw such significant ire from the Brussels boss.

GETTY Nigel Farage branded Jean-Claude Juncker a 'fool'

GETTY The EU Commission's comments have sparked controversy

Reacting to the speech Mr Farage, who has become a close personal friend of the US President, told express.co.uk: “Juncker has made a complete fool of himself. “He clearly does not understand the difference between the EU and the United States of America. One was formed by consent while the other is being imposed. “The US is an organically formed nation with a single language and similar culture while the cultural and linguistic differences in the EU are immense. “If this is what Juncker calls diplomacy, he needs to take a long hard look at himself.”

Juncker has made a complete fool of himself Nigel Farage

The comments by Mr Juncker are by far the most outspoken intervention any senior EU figure has made about Mr Trump and are likely to dismay some European leaders who were hoping to seek a policy of rapprochement with their most important ally. They will be seen as totally inexplicable at a time when EU-US relations appeared to be on the mend, with Vice-President Mike Pence having completed a largely successful trip to Brussels and the commander-in-chief himself significantly softening his tone towards the EU project. The remarks did not appear to be made in jest and drew some applause for the party faithful, coming in the middle of an angry speech in which he railed against critics of the EU Commission.

Juncker's most cringe-worthy kisses Wed, September 13, 2017 Jean-Claude Juncker's many signs of affection Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 19 Jean-Claude Juncker (L) kisses vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans