London Bridge attack: Sadiq Khan calls for Donald Trump state visit to be cancelled
Sadiq Khan: Picture credit - PA
Sadiq Khan has called for Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain to be cancelled after the US President once more lashed out at the Mayor of London over last weekend’s terror attack.
Khan said the UK should not roll out the red carpet” for someone whose policies “go against everything we stand for”.
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He was joined by Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron and Labour MPs Wes Streeting and David Lammy in calling for Trump’s invitation to be withdrawn after his latest outburst.
In a fresh war of words Trump yesterday doubled down on his false claim that Khan had told Londoners there was “no reason to be alarmed” by the atrocities in London Bridge that saw seven people lose their lives.
The London Mayor had in fact said there would be greater visible police presence on the capital’s streets in the aftermath of the attack, and urged people not to be concerned by the extra officers.
In an early morning tweet, Trump accused Mr Khan of a “pathetic excuse” and lambasted the media for “working hard to sell it”.
Khan’s spokesperson initially declined to specifically respond to the barb, but speaking to Channel 4 news the London Mayor said the US President was wrong about “many things”.
“I don’t think we should roll out the red carpet to the president of the USA in the circumstances where his policies go against everything we stand for,” he said.
“When you have a special relationship it is no different from when you have got a close mate. You stand with them in times of adversity but you call them out when they are wrong. There are many things about which Donald Trump is wrong.”
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson yesterday said: "President Trump will be visiting later this year as previously planned."
After a vigil to mark the London Bridge terror attack, Khan also told the BBC:
"We've got to recognise that some people want to divide our communities, some people thrive on fuelling division.
"That's not me, that's not the London I know, and we aren't going to allow anybody, whether it's Donald Trump or anybody else to divide our community."
Elsewhere Lib Dem boss Tim Farron said: “Trump is an embarrassment to America.
“In the wake of three recent terrorist attacks, two of which killed people on the streets of London, Donald Trump decides to use his time in the Oval Office to attack the Mayor of London over twitter.
"Sadiq Khan has shown dignity and leadership.
“Theresa May absolutely must withdraw the state visit. This is a man insulting our national values at a time of introspection and mourning.
“We need a special relationship not a supine relationship.”
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