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US officials have exempt Nigel Farage from the country’s travel ban under the “national interest” clause, as Donald Trump prepares to hold his first major campaign rally since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite the Foreign Office still advising all British nationals “against all but essential international travel”, the Brexit Party leader posted a photograph of himself on Saturday with the caption: “In the USA, only twenty four hours from Tulsa”.
The image – featuring Mr Farage with sunglasses and his thumbs up – fanned speculation he could attend the president’s rally on Saturday evening in the Oklahoma city.
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Mr Farage, who left his regular LBC show earlier this month, last appeared at a rally with Mr Trump in 2016, when the then-Republican nominee was campaigning for the US presidency against Hillary Clinton.
Questions were initially raised over how Mr Farage had gained entry to the US despite the country’s strict ban on individuals travelling from the UK under the presidential proclamation signed in March to curb the spread of Covid-19.
But in a statement sent to The Independent, the US Department for Homeland Security said: “On June 19, Mr Nigel Farage, the leader of the United Kingdom’s Brexit Party, was denied boarding while attempting to fly from the United Kingdom to the United States.
“The initial denial of boarding was made pursuant to a March 14 presidential proclamation that, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, suspends the entry into the United States of certain foreign nationals who recently have been present in the United Kingdom.
“After conducting a thorough review of the relevant facts and circumstances, DHS determined Mr Farage’s travel to be permissible under section 2 (a)(xi) of the presidential proclamation: any alien whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the secretary of state, the secretary of homeland security, or their designees authorising Mr Farage to board his flight”.
Since the 16 March, the US Customs and Border Protection agency has suspended access for “most individuals, other than United States citizens and lawful permanent residents, who have been physically present within the United Kingdom, excluding overseas territories outside of Europe, or the Republic of Ireland within 14 days of travel to the United States”.
During the same month, the Foreign Office also imposed unprecedented travel advice against all but essential travel for UK nationals across the world.
In regards to the US, the department’s advice adds: “The USA has put measures in place to limit the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19). As of 16 March, it will not be possible for many British nationals to enter the USA if they have been in the UK, Ireland, Schengen zone, Iran or China within the previous 14 days.”
Under the UK’s new quarantine policy, any person arriving in Britain has to self-isolate for a 14-day period in an effort to prevent the transmission rate of coronavirus rising in the country.
In response to Mr Farage’s post, the former Conservative cabinet minister David Gauke said: “Suddenly, the UK’s quarantine policy makes some sense”.
The Independent has contacted Mr Farage for comment.
