Nigel Farage's friendship with Donald Trump from 'chance meeting' to possible Clacton visit

The friendship between Nigel Farage and Donald Trump is relatively well known. The Reform UK leader has jetted away from his Clacton constituents multiple times since being elected so that he could support the Republican.

Mr Farage celebrated Mr Trump's "joyous" electoral victory as he enjoyed the result alongside Republican supporters including Elon Musk in Florida. The Clacton MP has also offered to "help" Keir Starmer behind-the-scenes "mend" the UK's relationship with his chum.

It's not always been a straight forward friendship for the controversial duo. But here's what you need to know about their friendship and the possibility of a future visit to Clacton.

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Their friendship began in 2016 not long after Mr Farage stepped down as UKIP leader and the Brexit referendum. The Clacton MP jokes about liking a pint or two and it's perhaps unsurprising that it was a 'chance meeting' at a bar at the Republic Convention that led to delegates in Mississippi inviting the UK politician to a dinner to talk about his success of the Brexit campaign.

Mr Farage said it wasn't until he was having dinner at the "magnificent" Governor's Mansion in Jackson that he found out Mr Trump, who was then the presidential candidate for the Republican Party, was holding a rally the following night and wanted Mr Farage to speak.

Writing in the Mail on Sunday in 2016, he described the Trump campaign as "highly controversial" and said some of Mr Trumps comments "have not looked good and left him open to accusations of extremism". But Mr Farage was later charmed by the future President.

He went on to say: "I was surprised, even slightly overwhelmed, by the warmth of his welcome and his huge support for Brexit." At the time, Mr Farage described his first Trump rally as being far from speeches he had done in "chilly village halls" in the UK during the Brexit campaign.

Is their friendship real?

The pair make much of showing their affection for each other in the public eye. Ahead of the US election, Mr Trump gave a nod to the Clacton MP, describing them as a "rebel" and the "big winner of the last election in the UK".

The Reform UK leader, who was part of GB News' coverage for the election, rose to his feet and punched his fist in the air in response. Speaking after Mr Trump's win, Mr Farage gushed about his loyalty to the President-elect. “I’ve been loyal to this guy through thick and thin," he said.

Amid criticisms over the UK Labour administration's previous attitudes towards Mr Trump, Mr Farage brazenly offered to be a helpful "bridge" between the Labour government and the President-elect - a suggestion that was slapped down by a Cabinet minister.

Whether their closeness is as strong behind the scenes remains to be seen. When Mr Trump suffered an assassination attempt in July, Mr Farage fled to the US just two weeks after being elected MP for Clacton. But he got tied in knots in an interview with Emily Maitlis where he insisted he "had to come" to the US though it appeared Mr Trump hadn't personally asked him to.

Unlike some friendships, there are limited photos of the pair spending time together. There has been no photos shared of Mr Farage and his pal since the result; although he did share a snap of himself beaming alongside Mr Trump's 18-year-old son Barron.

Will Farage welcome President Trump to Clacton?

Moscow, Kyiv, London are all possible visits the new President will embark on once his feet are settled once again under the Oval Office's desk at the White House. But could Mr Trump swing by Clacton during a trip to England - some in Mr Farage's team certainly think so.

Previously asked by The Telegraph whether Mr Farage could one day bring President Trump to Essex's sunshine coast, the MP teased: "You never know." The Independent also reported back in July that Reform campaigners had been told Clacton would receive an official visit from Mr Trump if he was elected to the White House.

One insider close to Mr Farage joked that "stranger things have happened" when asked if the Clacton MP had already asked Mr Trump to visit the seaside town in the days since the US election result. That's not a rebuttal.

Maybe Mr Trump will swap his favoured golf courses for a round of 18 at one of Clacton's two courses. Could he also possibly enjoy a booze-up with Mr Farage at the popular Moon & Starfish Wetherspoons pub. The drinks could be on the Clacton MP after he said he was "thrilled" to save "more than £1 a week" on beer after the Budget.