Sadiq Khan says Donald Trump should not get the full state visit treatment and warns UK won’t roll out the red carpet for him
Mayor of London renews his war of words with the US President ahead of his fiorst foreign trip to Britain next year
SADIQ Khan says Donald Trump should not get a full state visit to the UK and warns the red carpet will not be rolled out for him.
The Mayor of London has renewed his war of words with the US President ahead of his first foreign trip to Britain next year.
There has been a row over the decision to hand an invitation to Mr Trump in January to come here, with a series of planned protests and demonstrations.
And two million people signed a petition calling for Mr Trump’s proposed trip to be axed.
It appeared to have been kicked into the long grass after it was not mentioned in the Queen’s Speech last month – when all visits in the coming year are announced.
There were also reports Mr Trump wants Theresa May to “fix it” for him to get a warm welcome in Britain, warning he won’t set foot here until the public start liking him.
The Sun revealed a transcript of a private conversation between the two, seen by senior diplomats, reveals his touchiness.
Mr Trump says he hasn’t “had great coverage” in the UK, adding: “I still want to come, but I’m in no rush.
“So, if you can fix it for me, it would make things a lot easier. When I know I’m going to get a better reception, I’ll come and not before.”
Mr Khan, who has been one of the President’s main opponents in the UK, poured cold water on the idea any opposition could be smoothed over.
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The capital’s mayor was vocal in his opposition to Mr Trump’s travel ban, which targeted people from several mainly Muslim countries.
And the pair got into a spat over Mr Khan’s response to the London Bridge terror attack, when his words were taken out of context on social media.
Asked on yesterday about the mooted state visit, which seems likely to take place in 2018 now, the former Labour minister said he was “ready to play my role” when it came to challenging people's opinions.
He said: “State visits are different from a normal visit and at a time when the President of the USA has policies that many in our country disagree with, I am not sure it is appropriate for our government to roll out the red carpet.
“If you somehow think it is not possible to be a Muslim and a proud westerner I am happy to disabuse you of that idea, whether you are a reporter for CNN or Donald Trump.”
Referring to the attacks by Mr Trump on him, when he called his response to London Bridge as “pathetic”, he replied: “I think they were very rude statements and frankly tell him I will remember those statements.”