US President Donald Trump said he asked that London Mayor Sadiq Khan not be invited to the state banquet held in his honour during his UK visit.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump called Khan “among the worst mayors in the world” and said the mayor “has done a terrible job.”
President argues Khan’s record on crime and immigration is poor
Trump said crime in London is “through the roof” and criticised the mayor’s approach to immigration.
He added that he takes pride in London and the UK, noting his mother was born in Scotland, and said the city is not the same under Khan, citing “stabbings” and “dirt and filth.”
He concluded that he did not want the mayor present at the royal dinner.
Remarks continue a long running feud between the two leaders
The comments mark the latest chapter in years of friction between Trump and Khan.
The pair have traded barbs since Trump’s first term, often clashing over policing, migration, and the tone of public discourse.
Their disagreements have frequently spilled into public statements during high profile visits.
Khan’s op-ed frames Trump as fuelling divisive politics
Ahead of the visit, Khan published an opinion piece in the Guardian.
He argued that Trump and his circle have “fanned the flames of divisive, far right politics,” citing the scapegoating of minorities and heavy handed responses in diverse US cities.
He said such actions diverge from western values.
State visit mixes pageantry with sharp political contrasts
While the banquet showcased royal ceremony and allied ties, the dispute underscored sharp political differences.
Trump maintained that excluding Khan was appropriate. Khan countered that democratic leaders should model tolerance and restraint.
The exchange ensured politics shared the spotlight with pageantry.
Read more: US revokes Chabahar waiver, a major blow to India’s naval strategy
