London Mayor Sadiq Khan Calls Trump 'Racist, Islamophobic' Over Sharia Law Remarks

Last Updated:September 25, 2025, 01:22 IST

At his UN speech on Tuesday, Trump called Khan as a “terrible mayor” and claimed that London was moving towards Sharia law.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan and US President Donald Trump. (AFP photos)

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has called US President Donald Trump “racist" and “Islamophobic" following Trump’s comments about Sharia law in London.

At his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, the US president called Khan a “terrible mayor" and claimed that London was moving towards Sharia law, the Islamic legal system.

“I look at London, where you have a terrible mayor, terrible, terrible mayor, and it’s been changed, it’s been so changed," Trump said during his address.

He further added, “Now they want to go to sharia law. But you are in a different country, you can’t do that," referring to the Islamic legal code based on the teachings of the Koran.

Khan, who has led London since 2016 and is a member of the Labour party, responded strongly to Trump’s remarks. In an interview with Sky News on Wednesday, he said, “I think President Trump has shown he is racist, he is sexist, he is misogynistic, and he is Islamophobic."

The London Mayor added that many people would be wondering why Trump seemed so focused on him. “I appear to be living rent-free inside Donald Trump’s head," Khan said.

Khan further pointed out that London is a liberal, multicultural, and successful city. He said London ranks high in foreign investment and that he is “really proud that we are the greatest city in the world."

This is not the first time the two leaders have clashed. Khan had criticised Trump in 2016 over the then-presidential hopeful’s proposed travel ban on people from some Muslim-majority countries. In 2019, before Trump’s first state visit to the UK, Khan compared Trump to European dictators from the 1930s and 40s.

Trump has also insulted Khan, calling him a “stone cold loser" and even once challenging him to an IQ test.

Khan summed up the ongoing feud by telling ITV London, “I think I’ve got squatters’ rights for the amount of time I’ve spent in Donald Trump’s head."

“I’m just hoping he doesn’t send me an invoice for all the time I’ve spent there," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

News world London Mayor Sadiq Khan Calls Trump 'Racist, Islamophobic' Over Sharia Law Remarks

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