The ongoing feud between Trump and Sadiq Khan escalated recently as London’s mayor firmly rejected divisive leadership claims. Despite being the target of Islamophobic abuse and false accusations, Khan has secured the largest personal mandate of any British politician after winning three mayoral elections since 2016. As the first Muslim to be elected mayor of London, he has faced numerous challenges while maintaining progressive stances on social and religious issues.
Meanwhile, the Donald Trump vs Sadiq Khan conflict has taken on international dimensions. Khan has effectively countered rhetoric by highlighting London’s global achievements, stating that the city is “often the number one city on the globe when it comes to culture, when it comes to foreign investment, when it comes to sports”. Furthermore, London City Hall proudly noted that the city welcomes “record numbers of Americans coming to London since records began”, effectively undermining claims about the city’s decline. The Trump and Sadiq Khan disagreement continues to spotlight fundamental differences in their approaches to leadership, diversity, and international relations.
Trump Attacks Sadiq Khan at UN Assembly
During the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Donald Trump launched a direct attack on London Mayor Sadiq Khan. In his provocative address, Trump labeled Khan as a “terrible, terrible mayor” and falsely claimed that London now wants “to go to Sharia law“.
“I look at London, where you have a terrible mayor, terrible, terrible mayor, and it’s been changed, it’s been so changed,” Trump stated at the international forum. “Now they want to go to Sharia law, but you are in a different country, you can’t do that”.
This accusation forms part of Trump’s broader criticism of European migration policies. Following the remarks, Khan’s office initially chose not to engage directly, with a spokesperson stating: “We are not going to dignify his appalling and bigoted comments with a response”.
The incident represents the latest chapter in the Donald Trump vs Sadiq Khan conflict that has persisted since 2015, when Khan condemned Trump’s campaign pledge to ban Muslims from entering the United States. Throughout this period, Trump has repeatedly targeted Khan with personal attacks, previously calling him a “stone-cold loser”.
Additionally, the false claims about Sharia law have been circulating on social media for years, including fabricated quotes attributed to Khan. British officials have firmly rejected these assertions about London’s legal system.
Sadiq Khan Labels Trump Racist and Islamophobic
London Mayor Sadiq Khan responded forcefully to Trump’s UN comments, abandoning his office’s initial reserved stance. Khan directly labeled the former president as “racist, sexist, misogynistic, and Islamophobic” in a series of pointed remarks.
“People are wondering what it is about this Muslim mayor who leads a liberal, multi-cultural, progressive, and successful city, that means I appear to be living rent-free inside Donald Trump’s head,” Khan stated.
The confrontation between Trump and Sadiq Khan intensified as the mayor suggested Trump’s fixation on him stems from prejudice. “When people say things, when people act in a certain way, when people behave in a certain way, you’ve got to believe them,” he remarked.
Notably, Khan referenced the special relationship between the US and UK, comparing it to expectations from a close friendship. “One of the things about having a special relationship is that it’s akin to having a best friend. I think when you have a best friend, you should expect more from them”.
Khan strongly criticized Trump, and Sadiq Khan’s tensions have persisted for years. He did not directly criticize UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not condemning Trump’s remarks more forcefully, though he indicated British officials “should have the confidence to” speak out.
“I think President Trump is wrong in many, many ways,” Khan concluded.
UK Officials and Experts Refute Sharia Law Claims
British officials swiftly rejected Trump’s claims about Sharia law in London. Health Secretary Wes Streeting defended Khan on social media, stating: “Sadiq Khan is not trying to impose Sharia Law on London”. Streeting emphasized that Khan “marches with Pride, stands up for differences of background and opinion” and focuses on improving transportation, air quality, streets, and safety.
Rosena Allin-Khan, MP for Tooting, called for the US ambassador to be summoned over Trump’s remarks. “The US ambassador should be challenged over Trump’s rampant Islamophobia,” she wrote, adding that “London celebrates our diversity and rejects racists and bigots”.
The UK government has consistently maintained that “Sharia law forms no part of the law of England and Wales”. Minister Pat McFadden confirmed that London has “British law” rather than Sharia law and described it as a “great capital city”.
Sharia councils do exist in Britain—approximately 85 were estimated across the UK in 2009. However, these councils primarily handle religious marriage arbitration and “have no official legal or constitutional role in the UK,” according to government documents. Their rulings are not legally binding.
This marks yet another episode in the Trump vs Sadiq Khan conflict, with false claims about London implementing Sharia law circulating for years on social media. Fact-checkers have repeatedly debunked fabricated quotes, including one that misspelled “sharia” as “shakira,” which is quite funny.
Final Thoughts
The historical animosity between Trump and Sadiq Khan spans nearly a decade, dating back to 2015 when Khan criticized Trump’s campaign pledge to bar Muslims from entering the United States. Over the years, their mutual antagonism has escalated through increasingly personal exchanges.
Consequently, Khan allowed protesters to fly a 20-foot-tall “Trump baby” balloon in London during Trump’s first UK presidential visit. In a 2019 Guardian opinion piece, Khan condemned the “red-carpet roll-out” for Trump’s state visit, describing him as “one of the most egregious examples of a growing global threat”.
Throughout their exchanges, Trump has repeatedly labeled Khan a “stone cold loser” and “among the worst mayors in the world”. In contrast, Khan continues to highlight London’s achievements as “a global success story” that is “open, dynamic and safer than every US state in terms of homicide rates“.
When Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted Trump in July, the president renewed his attacks, calling Khan “a nasty person” who had “done a terrible job.” Starmer pointedly interjected, saying of Khan: “He’s a friend of mine, actually”.
Essentially, this ongoing dispute reflects broader tensions in international relations and approaches to governance. While Trump continues his attacks, Khan maintains that London remains “the greatest city in the world” with “record numbers of Americans coming to London since records began”.