Sadiq Khan: Donald Trump 'got the message' that Londoners don't want him here, says mayor

Authored by independent.co.uk and submitted by omidelf

President Donald Trump has “got the message” that Londoners oppose his views and polices as he cancelled a planned visit to the capital, Sadiq Khan has said.

The London Mayor, a long-term opponent of Mr Trump, said the visit would have been hampered by “mass peaceful protests” as the Presidents’s controversial views were the “polar opposite” of the city’s values.

Mr Trump said he would not visit the UK to open the new US embassy in south London and described the decision to move the building from Mayfair to Vauxhall, as a “bad deal”.

However the prospect of a hostile reception has been cited as a factor behind his decision to cancel the visit, as opponents have threatened mass protests if Mr Trump enters the country.

The President has also been promised a state visit to the UK but the offer has become an increasing headache for Theresa May, drawing opposition from politicians on all sides of the house.

In a statement, Mr Khan said: “It appears that President Trump got the message from the many Londoners who love and admire America and Americans but find his policies and actions the polar opposite of our city’s values of inclusion, diversity and tolerance.

“His visit next month would without doubt have been met by mass peaceful protests.

“This just reinforces what a mistake it was for Theresa May to rush and extend an invitation of a state visit in the first place.

“Let’s hope that Donald Trump also revisits the pursuit of his divisive agenda.”

The pair have clashed in the past after the President berated Mr Khan over his response to the terror attacks in London Bridge last year, where he mocked the mayor’s comments that there was “no reason to be alarmed” by the armed police on the streets.

Mr Khan hit back, saying he was too busy to deal with the ”ill-informed” comments from the President.

Ex-Ukip leader Nigel Farage hit out at Mr Khan and Jeremy Corbyn for backing protests that could have deterred him from visiting.

1/8 European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier speaks to the media as he arrives at the Council of the European Union ahead of an EU Council meeting on April 29, 2017 in Brussels, Belgium. The 27 members of the European Union will meet in Brussels for a special European Council meeting to discuss the continuing Brexit negotiation Getty

2/8 French President Emmanuel Macron (R) at the Elysee Palace, in Paris Getty

3/8 German Chancellor Angela Merkel Reuters

4/8 Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA

5/8 The European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt gestures as he addresses a press conference with the European Parliament president after Britain initiated the process to leave the EU Getty

6/8 Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May stands on the flight deck and speaks to crew members of the 65,000-tonne British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth after it arrived at Portsmouth Naval base, its new home port on August 16, 2017 in Portsmouth, England. The HMS Queen Elizabeth is the lead ship in the new Queen Elizabeth class of supercarriers. Weighing in at 65,000 tonnes she is the largest war ship deployed by the British Royal Navy. She is planned to be in service by 2020 and with a second ship, HMS Prince of Wales, to follow Getty Images

7/8 Brexit Secretary David Davis in central London Getty

8/8 Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, leaves 11 Downing Street, in central London PA

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Farage said: “It’s disappointing. He’s been to countries all over the world and yet he’s not been to the one with whom he’s closest. I think it’s disappointing.

“Maybe just maybe Sadiq Khan, Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party planning mass protests, maybe those optics he didn’t like the look of.”

HBLC on January 12nd, 2018 at 14:24 UTC »

I think it's an equal mix between people who don't want him here and people that do because of the absolutely epic protests that will happen.

BloodFeastIslandMan on January 12nd, 2018 at 13:00 UTC »

I'm an American and I don't want him here.

Sluethi on January 12nd, 2018 at 11:44 UTC »

INB4 Trump reacts with a tweet to this saying that he never wanted to go anyhow and how Sadiq is sad.