Sir Sadiq Khan, London's Mayor, has fired back at former US President Donald Trump with a cheeky remark that suggests the latter 'appears to have a crush' on him. This riposte came during the launch of the London Assembly's Heat Ready Plan at Islington Fire Station in north-east London, reigniting a long-standing public feud between two prominent figures who couldn't be more worlds apart.
The latest salvo from Trump earlier this week saw him brand Khan 'grossly incompetent', a 'bad person,' and a 'horrible representative' for the UK during an exchange with reporters at the White House. Khan, in his response, piqued curiosity about why he was 'living rent-free inside President Trump's head', hypothesising that it could be due to London's status as a 'progressive, multicultural, liberal, successful city'. This speculation comes on the heels of London winning the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew award for urban planning, which Khan believes may have sparked Trump's apparent upset.
The public animosity between Khan and Trump has its roots in 2015 when Khan publicly condemned Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States. The dispute escalated after Khan became Mayor in 2016, with him describing Trump's views on Islam as 'ignorant'. This long-standing feud continued through pivotal events such as the 2017 London Bridge terror attack, where Trump criticised Khan's response to the tragedy.
Amid these exchanges, Sir Sadiq also touched upon recent developments in UK politics. Confirming he would not be returning to Westminster despite speculation, Khan expressed his eagerness to collaborate with Andy Burnham, whom he described as a friend and the 'new prime minister', while also voicing sadness over Sir Keir Starmer's resignation announcement on Monday.
The ongoing verbal sparring between Khan and Trump often captures significant media attention, highlighting contrasting political ideologies and approaches to urban governance and international relations. While the immediate implications are largely rhetorical, such exchanges can occasionally influence public perception and diplomatic discourse, particularly given Trump's continued influence in American politics and potential future presidential bid.