You’re making pathetic excuses, Trump tells Khan
DONALD TRUMP launched a fresh tirade against Sadiq Khan yesterday, accusing the Mayor of London of making “pathetic excuses” in his response to the terrorist attacks.
The US president lashed out on Twitter for a second time after criticising Mr Khan at the weekend for saying that there was “no reason to be alarmed” in the wake of the atrocities.
In response, Theresa May risked opening a new diplomatic rift with Mr Trump by saying he was “wrong” to criticise the Labour Mayor of London.
Mrs May yesterday defended Mr Khan, saying that he is doing a “good job” as Mayor of London and criticising Mr Trump’s intervention.
Last night the mayor led a crowd of more than 1,000 Londoners in a vigil for the victims of Saturday’s attack.
Speaking outside City Hall, as the rain lashed down on the capital, Mr Khan spoke directly to extremists when he said: “As a proud and patriotic British Muslim I say this, ‘You do not commit these disgusting acts in my name. Your perverse ideology has nothing to do with the true values of Islam. You will never succeed in dividing our city.’”
Mr Khan spoke of the anger felt throughout London after the “barbaric” attack, which came just two weeks after a suicide bomb killed 22 people in Manchester, and three months after the atstream tack at the heart of Westminster. He said: “London stands in defiance against this cowardly attack on our city and our way of life.
“Our city is filled with great sorrow and anger tonight. Our unity and love for one another will always be stronger than the hate of the extremists. This is our city, these are our values and this is our way of life.”
But though the Prime Minister has now thrown her support behind the mayor, the US president persisted in his attack on Mr Khan. Mr Trump first said on Twitter on Sunday: “At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and
‘Your perverse ideology has nothing to do with Islam. You will never succeed in dividing our city’
Mayor of London says there is ‘no reason to be alarmed!’”
A spokesman for Mr Khan subsequently pointed out that the mayor’s original statement made it clear that he was referring to people not being alarmed by the increased armed police presence on the streets, rather than the terrorist attacks.
However, Mr Trump yesterday renewed his criticism. He said: “Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his “no reason to be alarmed” statement. MSM [mainunited media] is working hard to sell it!” The White House last night denied suggestions from US reporters that Mr Trump “picked a fight” with Mr Khan “because he was Muslim”.
“I think that to suggest something like that is utterly ridiculous,” Sarah Sanders, the deputy White House press secretary, told reporters.
Mrs May initially sidestepped questions about Mr Trump by choosing to praise Mr Khan’s response.
However, asked if Mr Trump was wrong about his assessment of the London Mayor, the Prime Minister told reporters: “I think Sadiq Khan is doing a good job and it’s wrong to say anything else – he’s doing a good job.”
Mr Khan has previously criticised the US president’s travel ban and described Mr Trump as a “buffoon”.
A spokesman for Mr Khan said the mayor has “more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump’s ill-informed” tweet.
Mrs May was earlier asked if she wanted a period of silence from Mr Trump. She replied: “I’m very clear that Sadiq is doing a good job as Mayor of London. We’re working with him, working together and that’s important.”
On what Mr Trump would have to say for her to criticise him, Mrs May said: “I’ve been very clear, I’ve been very happy to say when I think President Trump is wrong – to have taken America out of the climate change agreement, the Paris agreement. The Kingdom stays in it and we believe it’s an important international agreement. So I’m not afraid to say when I think President Trump is getting things wrong.”
The United States Conference of Mayors issued a statement offering its unequivocal suppport of Mr Khan. “[Mr Khan] has risen above this crisis of death and destruction, as mayors continue to do, to alleviate fear, to bring comfort to his people of London,” the statement said.
“Thank you, Mayor Khan, for your leadership during this crisis.”