DONALD Trump is playing chess and Mad Vlad Putin is just a pawn in his masterclass game, Nigel Farage declared today.
During a lively conversation on TalkTV featuring Sun Political Editor Harry Cole, the Reform Leader encouraged the people of Britain to have faith in the strategies being employed by the US President to bring an end to the destructive conflict in Ukraine.
Watch Sun Political Editor Harry Cole’s live phone-in with Nigel Farage on Talk HERE.
In the wide-ranging interview, Mr Farage also revealed that fellow Reform MP Rupert Lowe may not stand alongside him at the next general election.
The party leader blasted his junior for launching a tirade in which he accused Mr Farage of behaving like a “messiah“.
And the political titan confessed the cheeky first action he would take if he was ever elected to be Britain’s PM.
Shifting the discussion to the crisis in Ukraine, Mr. Farage urged those who doubt the actions of the US President to believe that he is capable and knowledgeable in his approach by engaging directly with Russia and pressing Volodymyr Zelenskyy to finalize a minerals agreement.
The Reform leader said: “Everything with Trump is a game of chess.
“It is moving a piece, anticipating what comes back the other way.
“This attempt at peace is just beginning.
“It’s not over, but it’s a big mistake to prejudge any of it.”
Mr Farage added: “If you think peace negotiations are wrong, what is their alternative? Is it endless war?
“I’m much more comfortable with peace than another million battle casualties and Russia winning.”
It comes as Ukraine’s war chest took a massive hit following Trump and Zelensky’s historic Oval Office showdown.
A furious Trump cut off the US supply of billions of dollars’ worth of battle tanks, long-range missiles, and air defense systems to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s military is now facing one of its biggest challenges since the start of the war: fighting without the full backing of the United States.
On TalkTV Mr Farage hit back at criticism from Sir Keir Starmer that he has appeased tyrant Putin.
In 2013 the Reform chief declared he “admired” the Russian dictator.
Mr. Farage expressed his strong disapproval, stating, “I once mentioned that I respected him as a political figure, but in the same breath, I admitted to not feeling a personal liking towards him, having no desire to reside in Russia, and being troubled by the apparent high number of journalists facing harm.”
“That’s the only comment I’ve ever made about Putin that you could even describe as being favourable in one half of a sentence.”
Nigel Farage hits back at Rupert Lowe
Turning to his own party’s affairs, Mr Farage lashed out after Mr Lowe called his leadership into question and suggested they currently amounted to a “protest” movement.
Mr Lowe – one of just five Reform MPs – had said: “It’s too early to know whether Nigel will deliver the goods.”
Reacting on TalkTV, Mr Farage shot back: “We are not a protest party in any way at all that is utterly wrong, utterly, completely wrong. We are an entirely positive party.
“Come to any Reform event, and the positivity, the energy, and perhaps you should come to one.”
Asked if his colleague would still be a Reform MP at the next election, Mr Farage told Harry: “I hope so, he seems to be taking a tone that suggests he won’t accept us.”
Rupert Lowe risked sparking a civil war in his party after questioning the potential of Mr Farage.
In a punchy interview on Wednesday the Great Yarmouth MP said Reform must change from being “a protest party led by the Messiah” to a “properly structured party with a frontbench”.
The ex-Southampton FC chairman hit out at Mr Farage’s ability to delegate and even said he won’t run for the party at the next election unless it changes “from top to bottom”.
Tech tycoon Elon Musk has publicly backed Mr Lowe’s politics, posting on X that his viewpoints make “a lot of sense”.
The billionaire has also backed the MP’s calls for Trump-style deportation tactics, including threatening countries who won’t take back criminal with tariffs, to be employed in the UK.
If Nigel Farage were PM…
Looking to the future, Mr Farage revealed what his cheeky first action would be if ever elected PM.
The Reform Leader said: “No doubt I’ll get a cork out of something and have a little minute of celebration.
“And then, having spent the previous year to 18 months planning everything, getting everything in place, being ready to move fast, I’ll stand on the steps and announce what we’re going to do in our first week.
“I expect that we’ll hear howls of protest from the left, from the militant unions and from Whitehall.”
Since its re-launch in 2021, Reform UK, originally the Brexit Party, has surged in popularity, with Mr Farage’s return as leader during the 2024 General Election further boosting support.
After a dramatic six weeks of campaigning, which included the party Leader having a McDonald’s milkshake hurled at him, the challenger party emerged as the third-largest by popular vote.
Alongside Mr Farage’s victory in Clacton, the party secured four additional seats and finished second in 98 constituencies.
Reform’s policies focused on slashing migration, scrapping taxes and ending net zero.
During the election Musk was a vocal supporter of Farage, posting on X in December that Britain “absolutely” needs Reform.
However, the tech tycoon’s stance shifted in January, when he called for Mr Farage to be replaced as leader, just weeks after reports the multi-billionaire was in talks to donate to the party.
Mr Farage has also maintained close ties to Mr Trump.
After the now infamous White House bust-up between the US President and Zelensky, MPs accused Farage of “licking Trump’s boots” .
The Reform UK leader called the Ukrainian president “rude” and accused Mr Zelensky of “bowling in and showing no respect” for Trump.
It is not the first time the Reform leader has been criticised for his stance on the conflict in Ukraine.
During the general election, he was condemned for claiming the West had “provoked” Russia into the deadly invasion.
