US President Donald Trump has reignited his long-running feud with the Mayor of London, claiming that parts of the British capital are so dangerous that police officers are afraid to patrol them. The remarks, made during a public appearance, drew an immediate response from Sadiq Khan's political allies, who accused the President of allowing the Mayor to dominate his thinking.
Mr Trump alleged that there are areas of London where law enforcement will not venture because a different culture has taken hold. He went further by suggesting that Mr Khan only retains his position because of the votes of immigrants. The comments mark the latest chapter in a bitter personal dispute that has simmered between the two men for years, long predating Mr Khan's re-election as Mayor.
A spokesperson for Mr Khan dismissed the President's claims as baseless, noting that crime rates in London have been falling and that the Metropolitan Police operate across all parts of the city. The Mayor's team pointed to the irony of Mr Trump criticising safety in London while the US continues to grapple with its own record on gun violence and mass shootings. One Labour source was quoted as saying the President was clearly fixated, describing Mr Khan as living rent free in Mr Trump's head.
The exchange is the latest in a series of public clashes between the two politicians. Mr Trump has previously described Mr Khan as a stone-cold loser and has criticised his stewardship of the capital on multiple occasions. The Mayor, for his part, has been a vocal critic of Mr Trump's policies, particularly the travel ban on citizens from several Muslim-majority countries, which Mr Khan condemned as Islamophobic. During Mr Trump's state visit to the UK, Mr Khan authorised a giant inflatable blimp depicting the President as a baby, which flew above Parliament Square in a highly publicised protest.
The latest remarks come at a sensitive time for transatlantic relations, with the UK government seeking to negotiate a trade deal with the United States. Downing Street has so far declined to comment on the President's characterisation of London's policing, though officials are understood to be keen to avoid inflaming tensions. The Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, also declined to engage directly with the claims, instead reiterating that officers carry out their duties across the capital every day.
Mr Khan, who was re-elected for a third term, has made crime reduction a central plank of his platform. Official statistics show that knife crime and burglary have fallen in recent years, although the Mayor has faced criticism over rising public concern about safety on public transport and in certain neighbourhoods. His office said the Mayor remains focused on delivering for Londoners and would not be distracted by personal attacks from overseas.
The dispute shows no sign of cooling, with both men likely to remain in office for the foreseeable future. Political analysts note that Mr Trump's fixation on Mr Khan is unusual given the Mayor's limited role in international affairs, but it reflects the President's tendency to personalise political disagreements. For now, the Mayor's team appears content to treat the President's outbursts as noise, insisting that London remains one of the safest major cities in the world.