Nigel Farage has been applauded for his handling of a “cynical” line of questioning from Good Morning Britain hosts Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway on Thursday morning.
The Reform UK leader and elected MP appeared on the ITV show to discuss the political party’s first conference in Birmingham, his friendship with US presidential hopeful Donald Trump, what life is like now he’s an elected MP, and many other issues.
The interview was relatively smooth sailing in its opening minutes, with Madeley and Garraway grilling Farage on what Reform UK stands for and the MP able to reel off his answers effectively without a slanging match with the hosts.
However, when the conversation turned to his “loyalty” to Trump, things took a turn in the eyes of viewers.
Referring to remarks Trump made in last week’s televised debate with Democrat hopeful Kamala Harris, Madeley quizzed: “You’re very loyal to Donald Trump. How difficult is that when he says in Springfield (there are) cats and dogs being eaten by immigrants?
“And how difficult is it when you hear him saying in the last few days that it was divine intervention that saved his life -” Madeley continued before Garraway sarcastically interrupted: “Is that what he told you on the phone?”
Madeley continued his train of thought as he asked: “You spoke to him on the phone, he can be pretty ridiculous really, can’t he? It must be pretty hard to stay loyal to him.”
But Farage was unwavering in his support for the Republican nominee, telling Madeley: “Whenever Donald Trump makes a comment that is ridiculed, it always turns out to be true! I refer that to the cats and dogs.”
Turning his attention to Madeley’s comments about Trump’s faith in Christianity, Farage took a more stern approach: “And I find your line of attacking those who believe that there are sometimes divine interventions… that actually there are people out there who believe in God, who believe that sometimes they get spared… I find that line of yours very cynical.”
Madeley could be heard chuckling off-camera as Farage continued: “Do you know something? I was in an airplane that crashed into the ground in 2010, I was smashed to pieces – I shouldn’t have survived.
‘You’re very loyal to Donald Trump, how difficult is that when he says things like Springfield cats and dogs are being eaten by immigrants and that he believes it was divine intervention that saved his life’@richardm56 questions @Nigel_Farage over his loyalties to Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/AAyeBj0Sn1
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) September 19, 2024
“I’ve no idea why I did, but who knows? Maybe even I believe that at times there is a higher intervention that can work in your favour.”
Madeley attempted to clarify the stance he was taking: “I doubt you’d say that God wants you as the MP for Clacton in the way Donald Trump said he thinks God wants him to be President of the United States, that’s my point.”
But Farage expertly hit back: “Do you know what? British armies for centuries have fought saying, ‘God is on our side’. People need to believe in something.
“And if you were facing the prospect of walking out of your front door and someone might shoot you every day because it’s happened twice in the last two months… the fact he has a religious faith maybe is what’s giving him the strength to continue.”
The interview soon moved on but it’s safe to say the manner in which Garraway and Madeley approached questions about Trump’s faith and Farage’s loyalty irked several viewers at home.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one viewer penned in response to a clip of the moment: “I don’t like @Nigel_Farage, nor his love of Trump, but he is spot on here defending a man’s right to speak of his faith… Well said, Mr Farage.”
Madeley came under fire from a second who asked: “Why is believing in a god a reason to ridicule? Is it because he’s Christian, and that is ok? Was such a weird question.”
“How condescending of those two sneering presenters,” a third critiqued before a fourth blasted: “GMB reach a new low by attacking Farage about religion. Luckily he is smarter than them both put together and answered every question, which most other politicians fail to do.”
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The criticism kept coming from a fifth who fumed: “Would you mock other faiths and religions in the same way @richardm56 @kategarraway? I don’t think so…. Shame on you.”
And from a sixth who weighed in: “So folk aren’t allowed to believe in God now? I’d be wanting to hide this interview not post it on X pathetic behaviour.”
However, Farage did come under criticism from some who wanted him to expand further when expressing his support for Trump’s remarks.
“Hard to ignore how these two allowed Farage to gloss over the cats and dogs claim without challenging him to demonstrate any evidence that Haitian immigrants are eating the cats and dogs of Springfield,” one fan argued. (sic)
