NEW YORK – US President Donald Trump, who had mocked London Mayor SadiqKhan’s height before boarding his presidential plane to start hiscontroversial state visit to the United Kingdom, continued to disparage theMuslim politician, who of Pakistani ancestry, just before landing in London.In his last statements before departing Washington for the British capital,Trump compared Sadiq Khan to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, one of thestrongest critics of the president, and said he was not looking forward tomeet him during his stay in London.
“I don’t think much of him. He’s the twin of (Mayor) de Blasio exceptshorter,” he told reporters at the White House on Sunday.
Khan “who by all accounts has done a terrible job as Mayor of London, hasbeen foolishly ‘nasty’ to the visiting President of the United States, byfar the most important ally of the United Kingdom. He is a stone cold loserwho should focus on crime in London, not me.”
The long simmering feud between President Trump and Sadiq Khan, who waselected as London’s mayor in May 2016, started after Khan’s election. Khantweeted criticism of then-candidate Trump’s rhetoric, saying that his“ignorant view of Islam could make both our countries less safe. It risksalienating mainstream Muslims.”
Khan later replied to the president’s attacks by tweeting a video where hepublicly denounced the U.S. president’s rhetoric and policies. In a videoreleased in partnership with Elle UK, Khan directed his message right toTrump, saying his values are the “complete opposite of London’s values andthe values in this country.”
Trump’s remarks came after Khan, who has made no secret of his disapprovalof Trump, described the US leader as the “fascist of the 20th century” inan explosive article Saturday.Calling Trump a “global threat,” Khan wrote that it was “un-British” toinvite him for a state visit.
He accused Trump of deliberately using xenophobic and racist policies suchas his travel ban against several Muslim countries as well as his ongoingimmigration crackdown as an “electoral tactic” to win more votes.
Khan went on to call Trump the “figurehead” of the global far-rightmovement and said it was under his watch that people like Brexit Partyleader Nigel Farage could gain influence.
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“Rather than bestowing Trump with a grand platform of acceptability to theworld, we should be speaking out and saying that this behaviour isunacceptable – and that it poses a grave threat to the values andprinciples we have fought hard to defend – often together – for decades.”
“In years to come, I suspect this state visit will be one we look back onwith profound regret and acknowledge that we were on the wrong side ofhistory,” Khan stated.
He called on outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May to “issue a powerfulrejection … of Trump and the far-right agenda he embodies.”
Farage, however, took offence at Khan’s remarks and blasted his criticismof the American president.
“I’m sorry, what is wrong with you people? Whether you like him or not, heis the President of the United States of America,” said Farage, who isclose friends with Trump and would probably meet him during the trip. -APP
