London Mayor Sadiq Khan remarked that US President Donald Trump seems to have a fascination with him, as Trump once again launched a verbal attack against him. Khan stated that he seems to be occupying a significant space in Trump’s thoughts without paying rent, following the President’s renewed criticism of him, labeling Khan as “grossly incompetent” without any external prompting.
In response, Khan, who has served as London’s mayor for over a decade and won three elections, expressed confusion over Trump’s fixation on him, suggesting it might be due to his role as the mayor of a progressive, multicultural, liberal, and successful city. Khan highlighted London’s recent recognition as the world’s best city with the Lee Kuan Yew Prize in urban planning, speculating that this achievement might have triggered Trump’s displeasure.
The ongoing feud between the two dates back to 2015 when Khan criticized Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims from entering the US. Subsequently, Trump misinterpreted Khan’s comments on the London Bridge terror attack in 2017, leading to further tension. Khan even called for the cancellation of Trump’s state visit, allowing a giant blimp depicting Trump as an angry baby to be flown during protests.
Trump’s derogatory remarks toward Khan continued over the years, with the President referring to Khan as a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor” and a “stone cold loser.” In response, Khan condemned Trump’s aggressive rhetoric, particularly regarding Iran, emphasizing the offensive nature of such language coming from a world leader.
When asked about potentially standing as a Member of Parliament like Andy Burnham, who recently took office, Khan affirmed his commitment to his current role as London Mayor, describing it as the best job in politics. He expressed eagerness to collaborate with Burnham and reminisced about their past political experiences together, indicating a supportive stance toward Burnham’s potential future as the UK’s Prime Minister.
Khan also expressed regret over Keir Starmer’s decision to resign as Prime Minister, highlighting his sadness at the announcement.
