Trump’s war of words with May

US LEADER LAMBASTS PM OVER CRITICISM OF HIM FLIGHTING ANTI-MUSLIM VIDEOS

US President Donald Trump publicly upbraided British Prime Minister Theresa May, rebutting her criticism of anti-Muslim propaganda in a diplomatic row between the two leaders.

Plunging headlong into a high-profile spat with one of America’s closest international partners, Trump suggested May focus on defending the UK rather than criticising him.

“@theresa_may, don’t focus on me, focus on the destructive Radical Islamic Terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom. We are doing just fine!” he tweeted, after an earlier tweet with the same message where he used the wrong Twitter handle for May.

Trump had drawn fierce condemnation at home and abroad for retweeting three incendiary anti-Muslim videos, posted by Jayda Fransen, the deputy head of British far-right group Britain First who has been convicted of a hate crime.

May said through a spokesperson that Trump was “wrong” to promote the “hateful narratives” of the group.

Trump’s interventions in British politics have strained the socalled “special relationship”.

He has infuriated British authorities with his tweets on terrorism in Britain, including highly publicised run-ins with London’s Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan.

Khan on Wednesday described Britain First as “a vile, hatefuelled organisation whose views should be condemned, not amplified”.

Before Trump’s latest missive, the White House had scrambled to limit the fallout, saying that even if the anti-Muslim videos were misleading, the president was pointing out a real problem.

“The threat is real and that’s what the president is talking about,” said White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders.

One of the videos falsely claims to show a Muslim beating up a Dutch boy on crutches. Fransen hailed Trump for his support. –