Sadiq Khan jokingly suggested that Donald Trump may have a fascination with him as their long-standing feud resurfaced. The ongoing exchange of insults between the two politicians began in 2015 and reached a peak last year when Trump accused Khan of supporting Sharia law, to which Khan responded by criticizing Trump as racist and sexist.
The tension between them escalated recently when Trump unexpectedly criticized Khan as a “bad person” and a poor representative for the UK during a press briefing in the Oval Office. Khan, speaking at the launch of his Heat Ready Plan in London, dismissed Trump’s comments, stating, “I wonder why President Trump seems fixated on me. Perhaps it’s because I lead a progressive, diverse, and successful city like London.”
Khan mentioned London winning the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew Prize as the best city globally, suggesting that this achievement might have irked Trump. The Lee Kuan Yew Prize, an esteemed urban planning award, was granted to London in June. The animosity between Khan and Trump dates back over a decade when Khan criticized Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims from the US, prompting a series of confrontations, including Trump challenging Khan to an IQ test.
Addressing the media, Khan expressed his contentment with his current role and dismissed any notion of returning to national politics. He also praised Andy Burnham, a fellow mayor, and friend, who recently became a Member of Parliament. Khan expressed sadness over Keir Starmer’s resignation as Prime Minister and commended him for revitalizing the party after the defeat in the 2019 general election.