London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has launched a fierce attack on Donald Trump, calling the US president racist, sexist and Islamophobic. The escalation came after Trump renewed his public feud with Khan during a speech to the United Nations on Tuesday.
"I think President Trump has shown he is racist, he is sexist, he is misogynistic and he is Islamophobic," Khan told Sky News. When asked about Trump's description of him as a "terrible mayor", Khan said he was "thankful" that record numbers of Americans are visiting London.
Trump's UN attack on London
Trump used his UN speech to target both Khan and London directly. "I look at London, where you have a terrible mayor, terrible, terrible mayor, and it's been changed, it's been so changed," Trump said. "Now they want to go to sharia law. But you are in a different country, you can't do that."
The president also claimed that "Europe is in serious trouble" because it was being "invaded by a force of illegal aliens". His comments marked the latest chapter in a years-long public dispute with the London mayor.
Government dismisses president's claims
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden dismissed Trump's attack as a "misreading" of London. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, McFadden said the capital was "a big asset to the United Kingdom" and "a big engine of our economy, of creativity".
"We have British law here at Selhurst Park this morning, no other kind of law, and that's what applies in our capital city and throughout our country," McFadden told GB News from Crystal Palace's stadium. He described the dispute as a long-running "beef" between the two men.
Farage backs Trump claims
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said Trump was right to identify sharia law as "an issue in London". Speaking on LBC, Farage said: "Never take what he says literally, ever on anything, but always take everything he says seriously."
However, Farage acknowledged that while sharia was an issue, it was not "an overwhelming issue at this stage" and that Khan had not "directly linked himself to it". He suggested Trump was highlighting broader concerns about Western culture and identity.
Khan had earlier told ITV London that Trump's behaviour spoke for itself. "I think when somebody behaves a certain way, when somebody says certain things, when somebody shows you who they are - believe it," he said. The mayor added with characteristic humour: "I think I've got squatters' rights for the amount of time I've spent in Donald Trump's head."
Trump's recent state visit to the UK notably avoided any public-facing engagements in London, with events held instead at Windsor with the King and at Chequers with the Prime Minister.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
