UKIP LEADER NIGEL Farage has been pictured with US President-elect Donald Trump in a gold-plated lift inside Trump Tower in New York.

Much had been made during the week of the fact that Trump’s phone call to UK Prime Minister Theresa May was one of his last to world leaders following his election.

That left many seeing Farage, who campaigned alongside the billionaire businessman, as the British politician closest to the Oval Office.

Downing Street has denied reports that Farage will act as a “go-between” in British relations with the new US administration.

Farage stressed the importance of the Anglo-American relationship and asked Trump to return the bust of former British prime minister Winston Churchill to the Oval Office, a UKIP statement said.

However, the Churchill bust in the Oval Office during the reign of George W Bush was on loan from the sculptor. Another bust of Churchill is currently in the White House residence.

The interim-UKIP leader said it was “a great honour” to spend time with Trump, describing him as “relaxed, and full of good ideas”.

“I’m confident he will be a good president,” Farage added.

“His support for the US-UK relationship is very strong. This is a man with whom we can do business”

Trump frequently links his campaign to the Brexit movement, but Farage would not say to journalists if he was playing a role in Trump’s transition.

Trump and Farage are both seen as having led populist repudiations of the “establishment” in 2016.

With AFP reporting.

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