Ofure Akhigbe
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has sharply rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that he is attempting to impose Sharia law in the UK capital, describing the remarks as racist and Islamophobic.
Trump, speaking on Tuesday, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, branded Khan a “terrible, terrible mayor” and suggested that London under his leadership was moving towards Islamic law. The comments drew widespread condemnation in Britain, with Labour MPs denouncing them as “bigoted” and unsubstantiated.
Khan refused to dignify Trump’s words with a detailed rebuttal, but his spokesperson issued a firm response late on Tuesday evening. “We are not going to dignify his appalling and bigoted comments with a response. London is the greatest city in the world, safer than major US cities, and we’re delighted to welcome the record number of US citizens moving here,” the spokesperson said.
On Wednesday, the London Mayor himself brushed off the attack, saying he appeared to be “living rent-free inside Donald Trump’s head.” He also stressed that he was “indifferent to President Trump” and focused on issues that matter more to Londoners, such as housing, transport, and safety.
Khan has in the past accused Trump of being “racist, sexist, misogynistic and Islamophobic,” and the latest clash adds to a long-running feud between the two leaders dating back to Trump’s earlier criticisms of Khan’s handling of terrorism and crime in London.
Support for Khan came quickly from across the Labour Party. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, speaking on Wednesday, dismissed Trump’s remarks as “utter nonsense,” noting that Khan is a leader who has consistently defended diversity, inclusion, and minority rights.
The row underscores the renewed tension between London’s leadership and the Trump administration, even as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sought to maintain a constructive relationship with Washington.