Sadiq Khan has branded Donald Trump’s politics ‘one of fear and division’ after the US President said he had asked for him not to be invited to Wednesday’s lavish state banquet
Sadiq Khan has branded Donald Trump’s politics “one of fear and division” after the US President said he had asked for him not to be invited to Wednesday’s lavish state banquet.
The Mirror understands the London Mayor did not seek or expect an invite to the dinner at Windsor Castle. It is despite Mr Trump overnight claiming Sir Sadiq “wanted to be there” but that he blocked an invite.
In their latest war of words, source close to Sir Sadiq hit out at the Republican politician talking down “our great capital city”. “Trump’s politics is one of fear and division,” they said.
“This includes talking down our great capital city. London is a global success story – it’s open, dynamic and safer than major US cities. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons record numbers of Americans are choosing to make London their home.”
READ MORE: 7 explosive moments in Donald Trump’s years-long feud with London Mayor Sadiq Khan
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on his way back to the US after his state visit in the UK, Mr Trump launched a new attack on the London mayor, calling him a “disaster” on immigration.
“I think the Mayor of London Khan is among the worst mayors in the world, and we have some bad ones,” he said. “I think he’s done a terrible job. Crime in London is through the roof.”
On the state banquet, which was hosted by the King, the US President added: “I asked that he not be there. He wanted to be there, as I understand, I didn’t want him.”
In July, on a visit to Scotland, Mr Trump reignited his feud with Sir Sadiq and branded the London Mayor a “nasty person” in a televised sit-down. But the pair have a fraught history dating back to Mr Trump’s last presidency.
In 2016, Mr Trump challenged Sir Sadiq to an IQ test after he said the US President’s views on Islam were ignorant. And in 2019, moments before he landed in the UK for his first state visit, Mr Trump launched a vicious attack on Sir Sadiq, branding the mayor a “stone cold loser who should focus on crime in London”.
Earlier this week, ahead of Mr Trumps arrival in the UK, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Donald Trump and his coterie “have perhaps done the most to fan the flames of divisive, far-right politics around the world in recent years”.
In an article for the Guardian, as the US President’s state visit kicks off today, Sir Sadiq added: “This week, I’m sure many Londoners will speak up to tell President Trump and his followers that we cannot be divided by those who seek to sow fear.”
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