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The President of the United States has publicly criticized the Mayor of London, referring to him as “a nasty person” who has “done a terrible job,” while also stating he would “certainly” visit London.
Donald Trump’s remarks were made during a press conference in Scotland, where he is currently on a four-day informal summer visit. This follows a previous dispute with Sadiq Khan, during which he labeled the mayor a “stone cold loser.”
Seated next to the president, Prime Minister Keir Starmer intervened when Trump condemned Khan, stating, “He’s a friend of mine, actually.”
In response, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office stated that Khan was “delighted that President Trump wants to come to the greatest city in the world.”
“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, held at a Trump golf resort in Turnberry, South Ayrshire, the president was asked by a journalist about his plans to visit London during his state visit to the UK later this year.
He responded: “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 a second state visit.
The US president will be accompanied by his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, for the trip, which is scheduled to take place from September 17 to 19 and will be hosted at Windsor Castle.
Trump has frequently commented on British politics, recently praising several UK political figures, including Keir Starmer and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
Farage made multiple appearances and delivered speeches at Trump rallies during both the 2020 and 2024 presidential races.
While campaigning for president in 2024, Trump mentioned at a rally that Farage was backstage and that the newly-elected MP was “doing a great job.”
Speaking at a rally shortly before his election in November 2024, Trump said: “He’s always been my friend for some reason. He liked me, I liked him, and he is shaking it up pretty good over there.”
“He was the big winner of the last election in the UK.”
“He’s a very spectacular man, very highly respected, Nigel Farage.”
Since assuming office for his second term in January, Trump has also praised Keir Starmer, whose party secured victory in the 2024 general election, making him Prime Minister.
At the press conference on Monday, the US President stated that he has received “great support” from Starmer.
He added: “Any time we needed help, any time we needed any form of support, you’ve been there. We appreciate it very much, and we’re going to continue onward.”
Trump also complimented Starmer’s wife, Victoria, saying: “I respect him much more today than I did before because I just met his wife and family. He’s got a perfect wife and that’s never easy to achieve.”
The Prime Minister responded: “I take no credit for that.”
Trump also discussed his predictions for the next UK election and the challenge the government faces from Reform UK at Monday’s press conference.
He said: “I happen to like both men. I like this man (Starmer) a lot, and I like Nigel.”
“And, you know, I don’t know the politics over here. I don’t know where they stand.”
“I would say one is slightly liberal – not that liberal, slightly – and the other one is slightly conservative, but they’re both good men.”
He added: “(Starmer) did a great thing with the economy, because a lot of money is going to come in because of the deal that was made.”
“But I think that, I think that immigration is now bigger than ever before.”
The president stated earlier that he believes Starmer, who has been in office for more than a year, will be “a tax cutter.”
The White House has described the visit to Scotland as a “private” trip, and its primary 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 instance of the United States’ leader criticizing Khan.
In 2019, he referred to London’s mayor, who was re-elected for a third term in 2024, as a “stone cold loser who should focus on crime in London.”
This occurred shortly after he landed on Air Force One at Stansted and posted two tweets critical of the mayor.
It followed Khan’s criticism of Trump ahead of his three-day state visit to the UK.
In the past, Trump has challenged Khan to an IQ test and criticized his response to the London Bridge attack in 2017.
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