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The UK government has denied allegations that it failed to defend London Mayor Sadiq Khan after he was described as a “disgusting mayor” by former US President Donald Trump.
Trump’s latest remarks, part of his ongoing dispute with Khan, were made in an interview with Politico. In the interview, Trump also claimed Khan was elected “because so many people have come in”.
In response, Khan told Politico that the former president was “obsessed” with him, adding that “record numbers of Americans” were moving to London because the city’s liberal values were the “antithesis” of Trump’s.
A Downing Street spokesman declined to directly criticize President Trump’s comments, stating that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer maintains strong relationships with both men.
When asked why No 10 would not defend the mayor against the US president’s remarks, the spokesman responded: “I do not accept that. As I have said, the prime minister has a strong relationship with the mayor of London.”
The Downing Street spokesman was further questioned on whether prioritizing the transatlantic relationship meant the US president could freely comment on Britain. He replied: “I don’t think that’s a fair interpretation… I think as I’ve set out, the US is our closest partner on trade and security.”
“You’ve seen the strengths of that relationship and the positive outcomes that has had for the British people.”
In his interview with Politico, President Trump reiterated previous criticisms of Khan, describing him as “a disaster” and claiming London was now “a different place”.
He also accused the mayor of having “a totally different ideology of what he is supposed to have”.
Khan stated he was unclear on what the former president meant by suggesting people who “come in” to Britain had helped elect him.
“I think it is for President Trump to explain what he means by that,” he said, adding that he had “no idea” why Trump was “so obsessed” with London’s leadership.
Trump’s comments to Politico were part of a broader critique of European leaders, whom he accused of being “weak” and overly focused on being “politically correct”.
He stated that European nations were “decaying” and claimed their immigration policies would force them to “change their ideology”.
Anand Menon, a professor of foreign affairs at King’s College London, commented that the prime minister had generally managed the “tightrope” of navigating relations with the US president effectively.
“We all know Donald Trump likes flattery and is an important person to stay on the right side of,” he told BBC News.
Prof Menon indicated that this was a challenge for all European leaders seeking to keep President Trump aligned on critical issues like trade and the conflict in Ukraine.
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