Donald Trump abandons bid to make Nigel Farage US ambassador after phone call with Theresa May
THE President-elect spoke to Mrs May this afternoon praising the Foreign Office staff already in place
DONALD Trump was last night seen to have abandoned his bid make Nigel Farage the US ambassador after a second phone call with Theresa May.
The US President-elect made no reference to the former UKIP leader during it, despite sparking a furious Transatlantic row about him last week.
Instead, the property billionaire heaped praise on Britain’s current diplomatic team in Washington DC, The Sun has learned.
Mr Trump also made a point of telling Mrs May how well Foreign Office staff - lead by current ambassador Sir Kim Darroch - were working with his officials.
No10 said Mrs May rang the President-elect in a bid to “establish a regular dialogue” with him.
And in another sign that the PM is exerting influence over Mr Trump during the 15 minute call, she also got him to agree on “the importance of NATO”.
The West feared the worst when he threatened to walk away from the alliance during the US election campaign.
The two leaders also planned a key face to face meeting in New York between their National Security Advisors, Old Etonian mandarin Sir Mark Lyall Grant former US general Mike Flynn.
But it emerged that Mrs May is now unlikely to visit the President-elect in Trump Tower before his inauguration on January 20.
Mrs May was snubbed by the real estate mogul, becoming only the 10th world leader the contacted after his election victory over Hillary Clinton.
When the PM finally spoke to the President-elect it turned out she had less time on the phone than TV presenter Piers Morgan, who spent 15 minutes speaking to him while she got just 10.
In contrast former UKIP leader Nigel Farage flew to New York for a meeting with the President-elect at Trump Tower just days after he won the Presidency.
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Confirming the call, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: “They discussed how the President-elect’s transition plans were progressing and agreed that their teams should continue to build close relationships through this period.
“They discussed NATO, agreeing on the importance of the Alliance, the need for more NATO members to meet the target of spending 2% of GDP and the role that NATO can play in addressing diverse threats.”
Eight days ago, Trump left Mrs May furious when he tweeted: “Many people would like to see @Nigel_Farage represent Great Britain as their Ambassador to the United States. He would do a great job”.
“They agreed to stay in close touch and to meet at the earliest possible opportunity.”