Donald Trump Rants About London and Sharia Law as Sadiq Khan Hits Back with a Dig of His Own

The war of words between Donald Trump and Sadiq Khan has flared up again after the former US president used a speech at the United Nations General Assembly to take fresh aim at the Mayor of London.

Speaking in New York on Tuesday, 23 September, Trump launched into a tirade against immigration and Europe’s clean energy policies, claiming without evidence that London “wants to go to sharia law.” He also branded Khan a “terrible, terrible mayor,” insisting the capital had been “so changed” under his watch.

“Europe is in serious trouble,” Trump said. “They have been invaded by a force of illegal aliens like nobody’s ever seen before. I look at London, where you have a terrible mayor, terrible, terrible mayor, and it’s been changed, it’s been so changed.

Now they want to go to sharia law. But you are in a different country, you can’t do that. Both the immigration and their suicidal energy ideas will be the death of Western Europe if something isn’t done immediately. This cannot be sustained.”

Khan’s office wasted little time in hitting back, refusing to entertain the claims but making a pointed comparison with Trump’s own backyard. A spokesperson said, “We are not going to dignify his appalling and bigoted comments with a response. London is the greatest city in the world, safer than major US cities, and we’re delighted to welcome the record number of US citizens moving here.”

This is not the first time the two leaders have clashed. Trump has repeatedly targeted Khan, once calling him “among the worst mayors in the world.” The spat reignited after Trump’s recent state visit to the UK, during which he stayed at Windsor Castle with King Charles and later with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Chequers.

Speaking after that trip, Trump once again dismissed Khan, saying, “I think the Mayor of London, Khan, is among the worst mayors in the world, and we have some bad ones. If you look at Chicago, but I think he’s the equivalent of the mayor of Chicago. I think he’s done a terrible job. Crime in London”, reported the London.

Khan himself has brushed off the insults, telling reporters on Sunday, 21 September, that Trump’s attacks did not weigh heavily on him. “I’ve not really given it much thought. I am indifferent to President Trump. I literally (have) more important things to worry about,” he said.

Despite the bluster, Khan’s office has leaned on statistics showing London remains a safer city than many in the US and continues to attract record numbers of American expats. The back and forth between the pair looks set to continue, with neither showing signs of backing down from what has become a long running feud.