Sadiq Khan has branded Donald Trump racist, sexist, and Islamophobic after the US President attacked him as a "terrible" mayor of London.
The Labour leader of the capital said he appeared to be living "rent free" in the American leader's head after being singled out again by Mr Trump. The US President stoked his long-running feud with Sir Sadiq, branding him a "terrible" mayor during his address to the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
Mr Trump said: "I look at London, where you have a terrible mayor, terrible terrible mayor, and it’s been so changed, so changed." He claimed: "Now they want to go to sharia law."
Speaking on Wednesday, Sir Sadiq said: “I think people will be wondering what it is about this Muslim mayor who leads a liberal, multicultural, progressive, successful city that means I appear to be living rent free inside Donald Trump's head."
Pressed if he thought Mr Trump was Islamophobic, he said: “I think President Trump has shown he is racist, he is sexist, he is misogynistic, and he is Islamophobic."
Asked about the President calling him a terrible mayor, and whether he was a terrible mayor, he said: “Well, listen, I'm just thankful that we have record numbers of Americans coming to London.
"Since records began, there's never been a period when more Americans have come to London. There must be a reason for that. You look at a number of different criteria. We're often the number one city in the globe when it comes to culture, when it comes to foreign investment, when it comes to sports, when it comes to the ability of people to fulfill their potential. I'm really proud that we are the brightest city in the world and long may that continue.”
Earlier Cabinet minister Pat McFadden said Mr Trump's claim London wants sharia law is a "misreading of our great capital city" as Labour MPs rallied around Sir Sadiq.
Mr McFadden told BBC Breakfast on Wednesday: "Well, I'm here at Selhurst Park, in south London, where we don't have sharia law. We have British law. It's a great capital city we have, I think it's a great asset we have to the UK. I'm afraid I differ from the President on that."
The Work and Pensions Secretary added: "On the comments on London, I just think it's a misreading of our great capital city. This is a big asset to the United Kingdom, it's known all over the world. It's a big engine of our economy, of creativity. London's a great city, and I'm proud of it as our capital city and I think it's really important to the UK."
Health Secretary Wes Streeting added he was "not trying to impose sharia law on London". Mr Streeting added Sir Sadiq was a "mayor who marches with Pride, who stands up for difference of background and opinion, who's focused on improving our transport, our air, our streets, our safety, our choices and chances".
The senior Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry, who chairs the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee added: "I've known Sadiq Khan for over 30 years.
"He's a feminist, a socialist & an LGBTQ+ ally. I'm so proud he's our London mayor. For the record, he's as interested in introducing Sharia Law to London as I am - ie 0%. Those who suggest otherwise are deluded, or have a [very] sinister agenda."
Ealing Central and Acton MP Rupa Huq described Mr Trump's comments as "blatant bare-faced lies", while Rosena Allin-Khan, Sir Sadiq's successor as MP for Tooting, called for the US ambassador to be summoned over the remarks.
She posted on X: "The US Ambassador should be summoned and challenged over Trump’s rampant Islamophobia. Trump continually spreads lies.
"In London, we celebrate our diversity and reject racists and bigots. London is the greatest city in the world in huge part due to Sadiq Khan's leadership."