Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump made the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union (Brexit) a pronounced issue Wednesday night, calling on voters in the United States voters to "redeclare our independence" and sharing the stage with former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, a leading figure behind Brexit.
Trump did this during a rally in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday night, hitting former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her want to return to "globalism," all the while praising Farage for leading the "Leave" movement to a surprise victory in late June.
"The issues we face here in America are similar to the issues faced in Britain during their referendum on membership in the European Union. This is the movement known as Brexit," Trump told the crowd, which only offered up tepid cheers as he discussed it. "On June 23rd, the people of Britain voted to to declare their independence — which is what we're looking to do also, folks from their international government, which hasn't worked."
Trump went on to bash former Clinton for wanting America to "surrender to globalism" and for not putting "America first," adding that she has decided to "betray" her country.
"Nov. 8th is our chance to redeclare American independence," Trump told the supporters before inviting Farage up. The former UKIP leader told the Mississippi crowd that he wanted to bring messages of hope and optimism, recalling when the "Leave" campaign "smashed the establishment" with the vote by reaching out to many who never voted before.
"We did it. We made June 23rd our Independence Day when we smashed the establishment," Farage said, noting that everyone thought their movement would lose. "What the Brexit campaign did is we reached those people who'd been let down by modern global corporatism. We reached those people. We reached those people who never voted in their lives, but believed by going out and voting for Brexit, they could take back control of their country, take back control of their borders and get back their pride and self-respect."
He went on to bash former British Prime Minister David Cameron for calling on President Obama to urge Britons to remain in the EU and Obama for taking the bait and "talk[ing] down to us" by wading into the UK.s political affairs.
"He treated us as if we were nothing. One of the oldest functioning democracies in the world, and here he was telling us to vote 'Remain.' Having criticized and condemned his behavior, I could not possibly tell you how you should vote in this election," Farage said before hitting Clinton over the Clinton Foundation scandal. "But I will say this — if I was an American citizen, I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me. In fact, I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if she paid me."
"The message is clear. The parallels are there. There are millions of ordinary Americans who've been let down. Who've had a bad time," Farage said. "I think that you have a fantastic opportunity here with this campaign ... My advice to you — if you want change in this country, you better get your walking boots on. You better get out there and campaign."
"Remember — anything is possible when enough decent people are prepared to stand up against the establishment," Farage said before exiting the stage to raucous cheers.
Trump praised the decision to leave the EU while on a visit to Scotland after the vote was held, calling it a "great thing."