'Sadiq Khan is nasty': Trump renews feud with London Mayor as Starmer sits stunned next to him

US President Donald Trump reignited his long-standing feud with London Mayor Sadiq Khan, calling him “a nasty person” and accusing him of doing “a terrible job” running the city.

Trump, currently on a four-day informal visit to the UK, made the remarks while standing alongside Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

During a press conference at his Turnberry golf resort in South Ayrshire on Monday, when asked whether he intended to visit London during his upcoming state visit, Trump replied: “I’m not a fan of your mayor. I think he’s done a terrible job … a nasty person. But I would certainly visit London, yeah.”

The comment appeared to catch Prime Minister Starmer off guard, prompting him to respond immediately:

“He’s a friend of mine, actually.”

While, Mayor Sadiq Khan, now serving his second term, responded diplomatically, in a statement, said he was proud to welcome the US President to what he described as “the greatest city in the world.”

“The President will see firsthand London’s strength in its diversity and inclusivity. Perhaps that’s why a record number of Americans have applied for British citizenship under his presidency,” Khan added.

Long-running dispute

The tension between Trump and Khan dates back several years. During Trump’s first term, he repeatedly criticised Khan, particularly after the 2017 London Bridge terror attack, and even challenged the mayor to an IQ test. In 2019, ahead of a state visit, Trump called Khan a “stone cold loser” on social media and accused him of failing to address rising crime in London. He also labeled him “dumb” and “incompetent.”

Khan has pushed back over the years, once describing Trump as a “poster boy for racists.”

In a 2023 appearance on the High Performance podcast, Khan suggested that Trump’s repeated personal attacks may have been motivated by his skin colour and Muslim faith.