US president likens UK hospital to `war zone’ in defence of guns

Two months before he makes a controversial trip to London, US President Donald Trump compared a hospital in the UK capital to a “war zone,” suggesting the country’s anti-gun culture is contributing to a surge in stabbings.

“I recently read a story that, in London, which has unbelievably tough gun laws, a once very prestigious hospital — right in the middle — is like a war zone for horrible stabbing wounds,” Trump told the annual gathering of National Rifle Association in Dallas on Friday, without identifying the source of his information. The hospital, which he didn’t name, had “blood all over the floors” from knife crime, he said.

“They say it’s as bad as a military war-zone hospital,” Trump told the US pro-gun rights’ group. “Knives, knives, knives. London hasn’t been used to that. They’re getting used to it. It’s pretty tough.”

Trump is scheduled to visit the city on July 13 after several stop-starts since his inauguration. In January, he said he had “cancelled” a trip to formally open the new U.S. embassy in London because he thought the building was “a bad deal.”

The president’s latest comments add fire to the verbal derision that has stoked public anger in the UK after he lambasted the government’s response to terrorist attacks, criticised London Mayor Sadiq Khan and re-tweeted propaganda by a fringe far-right UK political group. He also reprimanded Prime Minister Theresa May for condemning his re-tweets of Britain First, saying she should mind her own business.

In February, he took aim at the country’s muchvenerated National Health Service, saying it’s “going broke and not working.” years in North Korea had recently been relocated from a labour camp to a hotel near Pyongyang, as expectations grow that they will be released before the summit.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Thursday that if North Korea were to free the three Americans, “We certainly would see this as a sign of good will” ahead of the Trump-Kim summit.

Trump, speaking to reporters outside the White House, suggested activity was under way involving the captives. “We’re having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the (US) hostages. I think you’re going to see very good things,” Trump said.