Sadiq Khan again claims Donald Trump is ‘obsessed’ with him | World | News
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has again said US President Donald Trump is “obsessed” with him, following another criticism of the Republican leader. In an interview with LBC on Sunday, Sir Sadiq said Mr Trump’s repeated attacks were “sticks and stones” and questioned why the leader of the free world was focusing on himself rather than global crises.
He said: “I’m a little bit curious and concerned about why the leader of the free world, who is facing so many challenges in the Middle East, in Ukraine, facing issues around the climate emergency, facing issues around trade, is spending time talking about me.”
Asked whether Mr Trump was obsessed with him, Sir Sadiq added: “Look at the evidence. The President seems obsessed with me at every opportunity when a microphone is placed in front of him. And I don’t know why.”
The comments follow a POLITICO interview earlier this week in which Mr Trump suggested people “coming” to Britain helped install Sir Sadiq. Sir Sadiq said at the time: “I think it’s for President Trump to explain what he means by that. I’m not clear.”
Mr Trump told POLITICO that European nations were “rotting” and criticized “weak” leaders, singling out Sir Sadiq. He said: “If you look at London, you’ve got a mayor called Khan. He’s a terrible mayor.”
“He’s an incompetent mayor, but he’s a terrible, cruel, disgusting mayor. I think he’s done a terrible job. London is a different place. I love London. I love London. And I hate to see that happen. You know, my roots are in Europe, as you know.”
Sir Sadiq said politicians and commentators criticized London because they were unhappy with its success as a progressive, liberal and diverse city.
He said: “They feel insecure about a progressive, liberal, diverse, multicultural, multicultural city being so incredibly successful. I think their uneasiness and anxiety is the antithesis, the antidote, of everything they stand for, which is unilateralism, nativism and protectionism.”
Asked whether Mr Trump’s attacks were racially motivated, Sir Sadiq said: “Some of the things President Trump has said and done lead me to believe that he is a racist, misogynist and Islamophobic President. I would go further. I think he is also anti-Muslim.”
Sir Sadiq also noted London’s global appeal. He explained: “I think that’s one of the reasons why record numbers of Americans are coming here to vacation, coming here to live, coming here to invest or coming here to study.
“I have no idea why President Trump is so obsessed with this mayor of London. I’m not sure what he could do against a liberal, progressive, diverse, successful city like London.”
The conflict between the two leaders has continued since Sir Sadiq became London’s first Muslim mayor in 2016. The latest comments highlight Mr Trump’s continued interest in the Mayor of London, despite the US President facing a range of international issues.
