London’s mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, has accused US President Donald Trump of inciting racism with his anti-immigration rhetoric, escalating their long-standing feud.
This week, Trump asserted that Khan’s position as mayor resulted from mass immigration, which he claimed has significantly altered London’s demographic, with the white British population reportedly at just 37 percent according to the 2021 census.
During an interview, Trump criticized Khan as a “disaster,” suggesting his ideology was misaligned and that he was elected through widespread participation. He further stated, “He’s a terrible mayor. An incompetent mayor, just a horrendous one. I love London and I don’t want to see it change.” Trump’s connections to Europe were also highlighted in his remarks.
These comments followed a warning from the White House about the potential for “the annihilation of civilization” in Europe if leaders continued their mass immigration policies, predicting that “the majority of certain NATO members could become non-European.”
Khan responded by accusing Trump of spurring on racism and anti-Muslim sentiments. He indicated that there is a correlation between the language used by influential figures and the radicalization of individuals, noting a significant rise in anti-Muslim hatred in the UK. “Whether intentionally or unintentionally, some people interpret the president’s views as a green light,” he remarked.
Interestingly, Khan expressed that Trump seems “obsessed” with him, remarking, “Every time he gets a microphone, he just can’t help but talk about me, and I’m not sure why.” The tension between them dates back to 2015 when Khan criticized Trump’s call for a ban on Muslims after a terrorist attack in San Bernardino.
Khan labeled Trump as “divisive,” hoping he would lose against Hillary Clinton. He also accused Trump of employing “xenophobia, racism, and ‘otherness'” during a state visit to the UK.
On the other hand, Trump labeled Khan a “ruthless loser,” particularly for his handling of knife crime and terrorism in London.
