Nigel Farage, leader of the British Independence Party and supporter of Brexit, criticized President Barack Obama for campaigning against the British referendum to leave the EU (European Union). Farage contrasted Obama with Vladimir Putin, Russian leader.
“Vladimir Putin behaved in a more statesmanlike manner than President Obama did in this referendum campaign,” Farage said. “Obama came to Britain, and I think behaved disgracefully, telling us we would be at the back of the queue,” he added.
During his visit to the U.K. in April, Obama urged Britons to support the Remain campaign during a press conference. The president warned that a vote to exit the EU would put the U.K. at the “back of the queue” when it came to trade deals.
In an interview with Fox News, Farage also criticized the “global establishment” for attempting to interfere with the vote, and dismissed the notion that the Brexit vote was the cause for the financial market turmoil seen over the last few days.
“The idea that Brexit is causing stock market losses is rubbish,” he said.
Markets continued to tumble on Monday. A number of rating agencies also downgraded the United Kingdom’s sovereign debt.
But according to Farage, leaving the European Union would be a boon for British trade.
