How Farage's response to racism claims is straight out of Trump's populist playbook

"When Nigel Farage angrily denounced the BBC and insulted one of its presenters for raising questions about his alleged schoolboy racism, those who have been studying the tactics of the right noted that his behaviour felt familiar. Is it out of the Trump playbook? I think that's exactly what's going on, said Steven Barnett, a professor of communications at the University of Westminster. This is becoming his new modus operandi, turning defence into attack."

"Nigel Farage is following the Donald Trump playbook letter for letter: deny reality, threaten to sue, smear the individuals involved and attack the media, said Daisy Cooper, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats. These calculated tactics are a desperate attempt to evade scrutiny by importing the very worst kind of American populist tricks. Reform was contacted about the claim it is following Trumpian tactics but did not respond. The un-Trump-like thing about Farage here is he's giving slightly evasive denials, said Sunder Katwala, the director of the thinktank British Future."

"Observers of Farage's response to the allegations point to four tactics also deployed by the US president: Threats to sue The instinct to sue media outlets has become commonplace for Trump, who has even threatened Rupert Murdoch with legal action from his seat on Air Force One. His threats have usually included demands for eye-watering amounts in damages."

Nigel Farage denounced the BBC and insulted a presenter after questions about alleged schoolboy racism, prompting comparisons to Donald Trump. Observers identify a pattern of denial, legal threats, attempts to smear individuals involved, and attacks on the media that shift defence into offence. Critics characterise the approach as importing American populist tactics to evade scrutiny. Some commentators note Farage's denials are more evasive rather than fully Trumpian. Specific tactics highlighted include threats to sue media outlets, demands for large damages, and efforts to delegitimise journalists and complainants.

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