The president of the United States has attacked the mayor of London, calling him “a nasty person” who has “done a terrible job”, before adding he would “certainly” visit London.
Donald Trump made his remarks during a press conference in Scotland, where the president is on a four-day informal summer visit, and comes after a previous spat with Sir Sadiq Khan when he branded the mayor a “stone cold loser”.
Sitting beside the president, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer intervened when Trump condemned Sir Sadiq, saying: “He’s a friend of mine, actually.”
In response, a mayoral spokesperson said Sir Sadiq was “delighted that President Trump wants to come to the greatest city in the world”.
Reuters“He’d see how our diversity makes us stronger not weaker; richer, not poorer,” the spokesperson added.
“Perhaps these are the reasons why a record number of Americans have applied for British citizenship under his presidency.”
At the press conference at a Trump golf resort in Turnberry, South Ayrshire, the president was asked by a journalist if he plans to visit London during his state visit to the UK later this year.
He replied: “I’m not a fan of your mayor. I think he’s done a terrible job, the mayor of London… a nasty person.”
In July Trump formally accepted an invitation from King Charles III to join him and Queen Camilla for an unprecedented second state visit.
The US president will be accompanied by his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, for the trip – which is set to take place from 17 to 19 September – and will be hosted at Windsor Castle.
EPATrump has not been shy to comment on British politics, with recent praise for several UK political figures, including Sir Keir and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
Farage made several appearances and speeches at Trump rallies in both the 2020 and 2024 presidential races.
When he was running for president in 2024, Trump told one of his rallies that Farage was backstage and the newly-elected MP was “doing a great job”.
Speaking at a rally just before his election in November 2024, Trump said: “He’s always been my friend for some reason. He liked me, I liked him, and he is shaking it up pretty good over there.
“He was the big winner of the last election in the UK.
“He’s a very spectacular man, very highly respected, Nigel Farage.”
Since taking office for the second time in January, Trump has also praised Sir Keir, whose party won the 2024 general election which meant the Labour leader became prime minister.
At the press conference on Monday, the US president said he has had “great support” from Sir Keir.
He added: “Any time we needed help, any time we needed any form of support, you’ve been there. We appreciate it very much, and we’re going to continue onward.”
Trump also had praise for his wife Victoria Starmer, saying: “I respect him much more today than I did before because I just met his wife and family. He’s got a perfect wife and that’s never easy to achieve.”
The prime minister replied: “I take no credit for that.”
EPATrump also spoke at Monday’s press conference about his predictions for the next UK election and the challenge the government faces from Reform UK.
He said: “I happen to like both men. I like this man (Starmer) a lot, and I like Nigel.
“And, you know, I don’t know the politics over here. I don’t know where they stand.
“I would say one is slightly liberal – not that liberal, slightly – and the other one is slightly conservative, but they’re both good men.”
He added: “(Starmer) did a great thing with the economy, because a lot of money is going to come in because of the deal that was made.
“But I think that, I think that immigration is now bigger than ever before.”
The president had earlier said that he thinks Sir Keir, who has been in office for more than a year, will be “a tax cutter.”
PA MediaThe White House described the visit to Scotland as a “private” trip and the main purpose appears to be to visit his two golf courses – Trump International at Menie in Aberdeenshire and Trump Turnberry in South Ayrshire.
This is not the first time the United States’ leader has attacked Sir Sadiq.
In 2019 he called London’s mayor, who was re-elected for a third term in 2024, a “stone cold loser who should focus on crime in London”.
That was just after he landed on Air Force One at Stansted and posted two tweets criticising the mayor.
It followed Sir Sadiq’s attack on Trump ahead of his three-day state visit to the UK.
In the past Trump has challenged Khan to an IQ test and been critical of his response to the London Bridge attack in 2017.