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The President also noted his personal connection to the UK, saying he felt a “certain pride” in London and Scotland, where his mother was born.
Trump’s remarks represent the latest escalation in a tense relationship that has simmered since 2017 (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump renewed his long-standing feud with London Mayor Sadiq Khan during his recent state visit to the United Kingdom, launching a fresh wave of criticism that continued their years-long war of words.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday, President Trump stated that he had specifically requested that Khan be not invited to the UK state banquet held in his honour. The President described Khan as “among the worst mayors in the world,” and accused him of failing on multiple fronts, including crime and immigration.
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“It was requested that he not attend,” the President said, adding that he believed Khan had expressed interest in being present at the banquet. “Crime in London is through the roof. Mayor Khan has done a terrible job, and on immigration he’s a disaster,” Trump remarked.
The President also noted his personal connection to the UK, saying he felt a “certain pride” in London and Scotland, where his mother was born.
Trump’s remarks, reported by Sky News, represent the latest escalation in a tense relationship that has simmered since 2017, when the President publicly criticised Khan’s handling of the London Bridge terror attack. The animosity between the two has been marked by sharp public exchanges and mutual condemnation.
Ahead of Trump’s three-day visit, Mayor Khan penned a critical op-ed in The Guardian, accusing the US President and his allies of fuelling far-right populism across the globe. “Scapegoating minorities, illegally deporting US citizens, deploying the military to the streets of diverse cities, these actions aren’t just inconsistent with western values; they’re straight out of the autocrat’s playbook,” Khan wrote.
He also argued that Trump and his administration had done more than any other to inflame divisive rhetoric worldwide.
The hostility between the two politicians has extended beyond public statements. In January, just before Trump returned to the White House, Khan warned of what he called “resurgent fascism”, drawing parallels to 1930s Germany. Trump, in response, labelled the mayor a “nasty person” during a visit to his Turnberry golf course in Scotland, asserting that Khan was doing a “terrible job.”
The UK government did not comment publicly on whether Khan’s absence at the banquet was a direct result of Trump’s request.
London, United Kingdom (UK)
September 19, 2025, 06:36 IST
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