London — Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has responded to Donald Trump’s false claims that Sharia law is being implemented in the British capital, labeling the US president “racist,” “sexist,” “misogynistic,” and “Islamophobic.”
Trump used his speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Tuesday to call Khan a “terrible mayor” and falsely claim that London wants “to go to Sharia law.”
Khan, the first Muslim mayor of a Western capital, told reporters on Wednesday: “People are wondering what it is about this Muslim mayor who leads a liberal, multi-cultural, progressive, and successful city that means I appear to be living rent-free inside Donald Trump’s head.”
He went on: “I think, as Donald Trump has shown, he is racist, he is sexist, he is misogynistic and he is Islamophobic.”
London City Hall previously stated, “London is the greatest city in the world, safer than major US cities, and we’re delighted to welcome the record number of US citizens moving here.”
In response to Khan’s comments, White House spokesman Davis Ingle told CNN that “Mayor Khan clearly suffers from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome and has done a terrible job as mayor.” His ridiculous open border and unchecked immigration policies have enabled violent crime to flourish in his city.”
Sharia law is founded on Islam’s holy book, the Quran, and the life of Prophet Mohammed. It refers to a set of principles that guide Muslims’ moral and religious lives in matters such as prayer, finance, divorce, and halal food.
According to a 2019 UK government document, Sharia councils have existed in the country since the 1980s, but they are used to “solve the matrimonial problems of Muslims living in the United Kingdom in the light of Islamic family law.”
According to the government, the councils “have no official legal or constitutional role in the UK,” so their decisions are not legally binding.
In a post on X Tuesday, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting defended Khan, writing, “Sadiq Khan is not trying to impose Sharia Law on London.”
“This is a mayor who marches with pride, who advocates for diversity of background and opinion, and who is committed to improving our transportation, air, streets, safety, choices, and opportunities. “I’m proud he’s our mayor,” Streeting said.
Trump paid his second state visit to the United Kingdom last week, which is unprecedented. Second-term US presidents are not usually given the honor of two official trips. A state banquet was held in his honor at Windsor Castle, but his itinerary did not include a visit to the British capital, where thousands of protesters had gathered.
Trump and Khan have had a long-running feud.
Trump promised to ban Muslims from entering the United States during his presidential campaign. Khan at the time called it a “outrageous policy.”
Khan later described Trump’s views on Islam as “ignorant,” to which the president responded, “I will remember those statements. “They’re very nasty statements.”
Khan, who was elected in 2016, is a vocal critic of Trump, most notably allowing protesters to fly a 20-foot-tall “Trump baby” balloon in London during his first presidential visit to the UK in 2016.
In a 2019 opinion piece published in the British newspaper The Guardian, the London mayor criticized what he called the red-carpet welcome for Trump and his wife Melania on their first state visit to the United Kingdom.
“Donald Trump is just one of the most egregious examples of a growing global threat,” says Khan. The mayor further criticized the president in another op-ed earlier this month, accusing the Trump administration of policies that are “straight out of the autocrat’s playbook.”
During a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in July, Trump reignited the feud, calling Khan a “nasty person” who was doing a “terrible job.”
Starmer interrupted Trump and said of Khan, “He’s a friend of mine, actually.”
