The president of the United States has attacked the mayor of London, calling him “a nasty person” who has “done a terrible job”, before adding he would “certainly” visit London.
Donald Trump made his remarks during a press conference in Scotland, where the president is on a four-day informal summer visit, and comes after a previous spat with Sir Sadiq Khan when he branded the mayor a “stone cold loser”.
Sitting beside the president, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer intervened when Trump condemned Sir Sadiq, saying: “He’s a friend of mine, actually.”
In response, a mayoral spokesperson said Sir Sadiq was “delighted that President Trump wants to come to the greatest city in the world”.
Reuters“He’d see how our diversity makes us stronger not weaker; richer, not poorer,” the spokesperson added.
“Perhaps these are the reasons why a record number of Americans have applied for British citizenship under his presidency.”
At the press conference at a Trump golf resort in Turnberry, South Ayrshire, the president was asked by a journalist if he plans to visit London during his state visit to the UK later this year.
He replied: “I’m not a fan of your mayor. I think he’s done a terrible job, the mayor of London… a nasty person.”
In July Trump formally accepted an invitation from King Charles III to join him and Queen Camilla for an unprecedented second state visit.
The US president will be accompanied by his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, for the trip – which is set to take place from 17 to 19 September – and will be hosted at Windsor Castle.
EPAThe White House described the visit to Scotland as a “private” trip and the main purpose appears to be to visit his two golf courses – Trump International at Menie in Aberdeenshire and Trump Turnberry in South Ayrshire.
This is not the first time the United States’ leader has attacked Sir Sadiq.
In 2019 he called London’s mayor, who was re-elected for a third term in 2024, a “stone cold loser who should focus on crime in London”.
That was just after he landed on Air Force One at Stansted and posted two tweets criticising the mayor.
It followed Sir Sadiq’s attack on Trump ahead of his three-day state visit to the UK.
In the past Trump has challenged Khan to an IQ test and been critical of his response to the London Bridge attack in 2017.
