Farage’s testimony raised a number of questions over here in the States. Most of them along the lines of “who on earth is this guy?”
Nigel Farage gave evidence before Congress last night, attacking Britain’s online safety and hate speech laws, and declaring the uk an “autocratic nation”.
Farage’s testimony raised a number of questions over here in the States.
Most of them along the lines of “who on earth is this guy?”
Other questions included “Reform UK, I think I’ve heard of them. Aren’t they the ones who keep banning journalists from things?”
And “he appears to hate Britain and everything it stands for quite a lot for a self-styled patriot, doesn’t he?”
We don’t know what Farage went on to say to Donald Trump when they met for lunch, but Farage promised he wouldn’t badmouth Britain to the leader of a foreign country.
Meanwhile, there was a heart-rending press conference on Capitol Hill, when survivors of Jeffrey Epstein came together to demand a bill be passed to properly unseal the Epstein files.
Also in Trump World:
- GB News had a little party
- Trump declared the Epstein files a “hoax” again. Nobody much listened
- New Orleans is added to Trumps’ “cities to invade” list
- Farage got roughed up by Raskin
Here’s a roundup of everything you need to know.
1. GB News had a little party
GB News held a launch party for their new Washington DC bureau at a swanky private members club a stone’s throw from the White House.
As well as Farage, who was occasionally seen escaping to the pavement for a smoke, the event was attended by Douglas Carswell, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Deputy Assistant Sebastian Gorda.
In the goody bags were Trump style red hats declaring the right-wing channel “the fearless champion of Britain.”
Doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.
2. Farage got roughed up by Raskin
Nigel Farage was branded a “far-right, pro-Putin politician” and a “Donald Trump wannabe” as he appeared at a US Congressional hearing.
Jamie Raskin, the Democrat ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee launched an extraordinary attack on the Reform leader during the Washington DC hearing – warning the people of the UK to think twice before they let Farage “Make Britain Great Again.”
Mr Rankin brought up a showdown he had with Farage during a recent visit he and members of the committee made to the UK to discuss freedom of speech.
“After 3 minutes of talking [Farage] cut me off and terminated the meeting because he didn’t like what I had to say,” he said.
Mr Raskin noted that “UK PM Keir Starmer has not shut down GB News”, over its coverage of protests in the UK.
Neither has anyone “stopped [Farage] going on Russian TV 17 times” or “parroting Putin’s talking points,” Mr Raskin added.
He said: “Mr Farage seems most at home with the autocrats and dictators of the world.”
“To the people of the UK who think this Putin loving free speech imposter will protect free speech, come over to America and see what Donald Trump is doing in this country,” Mr Raskin said, ahead of Farage’s evidence.
“You might think twice before you let Mr Farage make Britain great again.”
Blimey, Jamie. Don’t hold back. Tell us what you really thing of him…
3. Farage ‘couldn’t remember’ whether he was meeting Trump
Farage reluctantly admitted he was going to meet Trump.
And he squirmed as he was repeatedly asked questions about the Epstein Files – which a congressman said might be “awkward for your lunch” with the US President.
The Reform leader had told the committee he would have to leave as he had “other things to do” this afternoon.
After meeting the President, he tweeted a picture of them together is seen standing next to Mr Trump behind the president’s famous Resolute desk.
The post includes the caption: “It’s good to be back in the Oval Office.”
4. Epstein survivors say: ‘Help us’
People identifying themselves as Epstein accusers are calling on Trump for his help in making public remaining documents in the case.
Taking the microphone one by one following the lawmakers in Washington, several women referenced Trump’s “power” and “influence,” calling on him to “help us, and let our voices be heard.”
Hundreds of people gathered outside the Capitol for push to release the Epstein files
The gathering comes as a bipartisan group of lawmakers calls for the House to take up their bill that would force the Department of Justice to release its investigation into the late Jeffrey Epstein.
It’s an unusual grouping of lawmakers, including Republicans Reps. Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene and Democrat Ro Khanna. They’re trying to use a rarely-used legislative maneuver to force a vote on their bill against the wishes of House Republican leadership.
“A nation that allows rich and powerful men to traffic and abuse young girls without consequence is a nation that has lost its moral and spiritual core,” Khanna said.
Around the news conference, a large crowd gathered with signs that said, “Believe the survivors,” and “Unlock the Epstein files.”
5. But Trump says it’s all a hoax, again
After the emotional press conference, Trump, obviously, declared the scandal as a ‘Democrat hoax’ and says, ‘Really, I think it’s enough’
The president said that “thousands and thousands of documents” had been released but that the “Democratic hoax” would continue.
“No matter what you do it’s going to keep going,” Trump said. He added, “Really, I think it’s enough.”
Democrats, but also some Republicans in Congress have pushed for more transparency on the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. And, while numerous documents have been released as part of the Epstein* investigations, the majority contained information that was already public.
6. New Orleans added to Trump’s list of cities to wid
After saying he was prepared to send the National Guard to invade Chicago and Baltimore, Trump is now saying he’s mulling doing similar in New Orleans.
“So we’re making a determination now, do we go to Chicago?” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “Do we go to a place like New Orleans, where we have a great governor, Jeff Landry, who wants us to come in and straighten out a very nice section of this country that’s become quite, you know, quite tough, quite bad.”
State and local officials, many of whom are top Democrats, have sharply opposed troop presence in Chicago and Baltimore. Landry, though, is a Republican.
The president added “you have New Orleans, which has a crime problem. We’ll straighten that out in about two weeks.”
7. He’ll speak to Zelensky today
The Associated Press say they’ve been told Trump will speak to Volodymyr Zelensky today.
During his meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki earlier yesterday, said he expected to soon speak with the Ukrainian leader about the path ahead for the Russia-Ukraine war.
Zelenskyy and European allies of Ukraine are also set to hold talks in Paris on Thursday.