White House Defends Nigel Farage After Chagos Islands Proposal

The White House condemned Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch after she criticized a proposal by Nigel Farage to hand the Chagos Islands and the Diego Garcia military base to the United States in perpetuity. During a podcast appearance, Farage suggested this territorial transfer would ensure Donald Trump remained silent regarding the future of the Falkland Islands.

Badenoch described the suggestion as "humiliating" and "loose talk" from an individual aspiring to be responsible for British national security. She asserted that both the Chagos and Falkland Islands are British and will remain so regardless of statements from the American president.

In response, a White House official accused Badenoch of "peddling fake news" and undermining the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. The administration claimed Farage was referring specifically to the continued use of the Diego Garcia base rather than a transfer of sovereignty. A spokesperson for Farage supported this interpretation, stating that Farage has worked to prevent the islands from being given away.