Trump wants British allies to block 'ugly' wind energy farms in Britiain

NEW YORK, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- President-elect Donald Trump wants British politicians to rally against offshore wind farms in the Britain -- like one in Scotland he fought in court because it blocks the view at one of the golf courses he owns there.

Trump unsuccessfully fought the wind farm project near his golf resort in Aberdeenshire all the way to Britain's highest court, and apparently now wants the leader of the UK Independence Party, Nigel Farage, to lead a crusade against them in the future, believing they "sully" the Scottish countryside's beauty.

Media consultant Andy Wigmore, who was at a New York meeting with Trump and Farage after the election, told the BBC the president-elect is "offended" by the clean energy wind turbines.

Britain is home to some of the largest wind farms in the world.

The issue again raises worry about potential conflicts of interest between a U.S. commander in-chief responsible for the well-being of the United States and a billionaire entrepreneur concerned about the success of his numerous business ventures.

A large number of critics have already expressed concern about Trump's ability -- or lack of ability -- to look out for the American people as well as his vast billion-dollar corporate empire.

Reports of Trump's conversation with Farage is also worrying to environmentalists and Americans concerned about the monumental task of combating climate change. Critics have long slammed Trump for taking a skeptical approach to the issue, although Trump's associates have maintained that the president-elect does not oppose green energy sources.

"He did not say he hated wind farms as a concept; he just did not like them spoiling the views," Wigmore told The New York Times Tuesday.

Wigmore, also a supporter of the Brexit, said he sides with Trump on the matter and plans to campaign against wind farms in England, Scotland and Wales.

"He is a complete Anglophile and also absolutely adores Scotland which he thinks is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. But he is dismayed that his beloved Scotland has become over-run with ugly wind farms which he believes are a blight on the stunning landscape," Wigmore told Britain's Express newspaper.

Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks denied the subject of wind farms was discussed at the meeting, but declined further comment when pressed on Wigmore's remarks, the Times reported.

Trump said himself Tuesday during a meeting with the Times staff that he "might have brought it up."

Farage is the acting head of Britain's right-wing Independence Party and was a primary advocate for leaving the European Union, which Britain ultimately did this summer. He also publicly backed Trump during his campaign.

"It was a great honour to spend time with Donald Trump," Farage tweeted earlier this month. "He was relaxed and full of good ideas. I'm confident he will be a good president."

Trump has also said that Farage -- a very outspoken critic of the EU, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Barack Obama -- should become Britain's top ambassador to the United States. It was a request British Prime Minister Theresa May's office immediately rejected, while reaffirming Kim Darroch as the British ambassador to the United States.

"The British government needs to mend fences to improve U.S.-U.K. relations -- I can help," Farage said in another tweet.

"There is no vacancy," a Downing Street spokesperson answered.

Having a foreign leader, particularly a U.S. president, publicly lobby another nation for an ambassadorship appointment is almost unheard of -- but unsurprising to Trump's critics.

"It's not considered diplomatically appropriate," BBC Radio host Vanessa Feltz said Tuesday. "It's not good manners to say, 'Hey, you'll be sending us an ambassador and we want that guy, Farage.'

"It's like saying, 'You know, when you buy me a Christmas present, I want a pair of shoes from Gucci.'"