London Mayor Sadiq Khan reignited his feud with Donald Trump, calling the president’s UK state visit “toxic” and accusing him of fueling far-right politics.
As former U.S. President Donald Trump touches down in the UK for his highly anticipated state visit, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has reignited their long-running feud with a scathing new attack.
The 54-year-old mayor, who has frequently clashed with Trump over the years, published a fiery op-ed in The Guardian, criticizing the visit and warning of the damage Trump’s politics has caused worldwide.
A Feud Years in the Making
Khan and Trump have traded sharp words for nearly a decade. Trump has labeled Khan a “stone cold loser,” while Khan has branded the U.S. president a “poster boy for racists.”
Despite the tension, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived in London on September 16, staying at Winfield House in Regent’s Park before traveling to Windsor Castle for a packed day of engagements. The visit includes a royal welcome, military honors, and a lavish state banquet hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla.
But the arrival was met with controversy. Protesters gathered outside Windsor Castle, projecting Trump’s image alongside that of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein onto the castle walls.
Khan’s Strong Words
In his op-ed, Khan accused Trump of spreading a “toxic form of politics” both in the U.S. and abroad.
“President Donald Trump and his coterie have perhaps done the most to fan the flames of divisive, far-right politics around the world in recent years,” Khan wrote.
He pointed to Trump’s history of racially charged policies and remarks, including the travel ban on Muslim-majority countries and his response to white nationalist violence in Charlottesville.
“Six years later, the tactics we see from today’s White House seem no different,” Khan continued. “Scapegoating minorities, illegally deporting citizens, deploying the military to diverse cities — these actions aren’t just inconsistent with Western values, they’re straight out of the autocrat’s playbook.”
Khan added that political discourse has become “darker, more divisive, and more dangerous” since Trump’s first state visit.
Trump’s Response
Despite protests and criticism, Trump expressed affection for the UK upon arrival. Speaking to reporters, he called Britain a “very special place” and said, “I have a lot of things here that warm my heart.”
Whether those warm feelings will last in the face of Khan’s blistering words remains to be seen.
