Nigel Farage has declared Donald Trump’s involvement in securing the release of Israeli hostages as the President-elect’s “first great victory” before even taking office.
His comments came as three Israeli hostages were freed from captivity, just hours before Trump’s inauguration as US President.
Speaking to GB News, the Reform UK leader said: “This would not have happened had Kamala Harris won the election. Not for a minute. This is Trump’s first great victory.
“He’s such an amazing negotiator, he said if the hostages aren’t released there will be held to pay.
Donald Trump has taken credit for the release
GETTY
“They obviously believed him. So even before he swore in the oath of allegiance. His impact is being felt around the world in the most incredible way.
“And for all the attempts to demonise Trump and who he is and what he is, look back at that four years as president.
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“Look at his record, something for which any president would have got the Nobel Peace Prize, but not him.”
The release came as part of a broader ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, negotiated in the final days before Trump’s return to office.
In early December 2024, Trump had issued a stark warning that there would be “all hell to pay” if the hostages were not freed by his inauguration on January 20.
The President-elect maintained pressure through multiple statements in recent weeks, emphasising the urgency of finalising the agreement before taking office.
Nigel Farage said it is Trump’s “first great victory” ahead of taking office
GB News
“We changed the course of it, and we changed it fast, and frankly, it better be done before I take the oath of office,” Trump told Dan Bongino in a podcast interview last Thursday.
At his victory rally in Washington, Trump appeared to dismiss the Biden administration’s role in securing the deal.
“It just happened to be one day before we took office,” Trump said, taking a swipe at the outgoing president.
Trump declared the ceasefire deal “an epic agreement”
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The rally, held at Capital One Arena, featured an eclectic lineup including rapper Kid Rock and actor Jon Voight as opening acts.
Trump used the platform to declare the ceasefire deal “an epic agreement” that could only have happened due to his November election victory.
“The first hostages have just been released… Biden said that they made the deal, well… First of all, it (the Israel-Hamas conflict) would have never happened if I were the President,” he told supporters.