“I look at London, where you have a terrible mayor, terrible, terrible mayor… Now they want to go to Sharia law,” Donald Trump, UN General Assembly
In yet another inflammatory international statement, US President Donald Trump has accused London of seeking to embrace sharia law, taking aim once again at the city’s Mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan.
Delivering his remarks during an address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Trump repeated a string of attacks against Mayor Khan, whom he has previously labelled as “one of the worst mayors in the world.”
“Now they want to go to Sharia law. But you are in a different country, you can’t do that,” Trump declared, following harsh criticism of London’s leadership.
Trump Rekindles Long-Running Feud with Sadiq Khan
The US President’s latest comments continue his years-long antagonism towards Sir Sadiq Khan, a Labour politician and the first Muslim mayor of a major Western capital.
A spokesperson for Mayor Khan swiftly rejected the claims, saying: “We are not going to dignify his appalling and bigoted comments with a response.”
They added, “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.”
Trump’s latest tirade risks further straining US-UK political optics, as his words echo divisive rhetoric that analysts warn could embolden extremist sentiments and deepen transatlantic tensions.
Context Behind the Hostility
Trump’s history of clashes with Khan dates back to 2015, when the mayor openly denounced Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims from entering the US during his presidential campaign.
Since then, Trump has routinely used public platforms to attack Khan’s leadership, branding him ineffective and even claiming to have requested that the mayor be excluded from royal and diplomatic events during previous state visits.
During his 2019 trip to the UK, Trump described Khan as “a stone-cold loser,” to which the mayor replied with stoic disregard, stating he had “more important things to worry about.”
Sources close to the mayor said Khan had neither sought nor expected an invitation to that year’s state banquet hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle, noting that Trump’s presence stirred “fear and division.”
The Bigger Picture: Rhetoric, Religion, and Reality
Trump’s remarks have sparked backlash not only for their tone but also for their implications. Critics argue that linking a multicultural city like London with Sharia law paints a dangerously inaccurate picture of the capital.
While the UK legal system remains firmly secular and democratic, London’s diversity has often become a political target for those wanting to exploit cultural tensions.
The city’s vibrant mix of ethnicities and faiths stands in contrast to Trump’s repeated portrayal of it as a hub of lawlessness and religious extremism.
Meanwhile, security experts and independent statistics continue to highlight that London remains one of the safest global capitals, safer than many major American cities in terms of violent crime and gun-related incidents.
A Political Move or Personal Grudge?
Analysts speculate that Trump’s comments could be strategically timed, as he seeks to re-establish his influence on the global stage ahead of the 2024 US presidential election cycle.
Yet, the focus on a UK mayor suggests more of a personal grudge than a policy stance, a tactic Trump has often employed when under pressure at home.
Sir Sadiq Khan, who remains unfazed, continues to represent London’s image as an open, inclusive, and forward-looking city, values increasingly at odds with Trump’s political tone.
