Former Ukip leader’s love affair with Donald Trump’s America grows as he lands political analyst role on US news channel

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Nigel Farage’s love affair with Donald Trump’s America has taken another leap forward with news the former Ukip leader is to become a commentator on Fox News.

Fox announced Farage would be joining to provide political analysis on its main news channel and its business network in a short statement during Trump’s swearing-in as the 45th US president.

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Fox is owned by Rupert Murdoch, who has attempted to forge ties with Trump following his victory, and was also a backer of the campaign to leave the EU. New York Magazine’s Gabriel Sherman has reported that the media mogul, who owns the Sun and Times newspapers in London, speaks to Trump at least three times a week.

Trump has publicly praised Farage, posing with him just after his election victory and tweeting that he would make a “great” ambassador to the US.

On Thursday night, Farage and his ally Aaron Banks, who bankrolled the Leave.EU campaign, held a party at a Washington hotel near the White House.

During the event, Farage repeatedly praised Trump, describing him as “the only person I have ever met in my life who makes me feel like an introvert” and saying that “Brexit is great, but Trump is Brexit plus plus plus”.

Steve Hilton, the former adviser to David Cameron who was also recently unveiled as a Fox contributor, was also at the party organised by Banks and Farage. Trump did not attend despite the organisers repeatedly suggesting he might.

It is unclear whether the Fox role will affect Farage’s radio show on LBC, which only began two weeks ago, or his role as MEP for south-east England.