Sadiq Khan Accuses Donald Trump Of 'Fanning The Flames Of The Far-Right'

Sadiq Khan has reignited his feud against Donald Trump just as the Republicantouched down in the UK, accusing the US president of “fanning the flames of the far-right”.

Writing in the Guardian, the London mayor said: “President Donald Trump and his coterie have perhaps done the most to fan the flames of divisive, far-right politics around the world in recent years.”

He pointed to Trump’s former adviser Elon Musk, who urged far-right protesters in London at the weekend to “fight back or die” in their supposed bid to protect free speech.

Khan said: “For far too long, our politicians and pundits have refused to condemn the rising tide of hatred in this country, instead choosing to dabble in dog-whistle politics and dangerous rhetoric themselves.”

Khan also said Trump’s habit of “scapegoating minorities, and illegally deporting US citizens, deploying the military to the streets of diverse cities” was not part of western values, but “straight out of the autocrat’s playbook”.

Khan also sent a clear message to Keir Starmer, saying: “For our leaders, silence is no longer enough.

“The time has come to stand up and say: this is not who we are.”

The London mayor did acknowledge that the UK has to maintain its special relationship with the States – but suggested Starmer makes it clear that “we reject the politics of fear and division”.

The politician also snuck in a sly reference to the record number of Americans who are making London their home since Trump’s return to the White House.

The London mayor has rowed with Trump in the past, accusing him of using xenophobia, racism and “otherness” as an electoral tactic during his first state visit back in 2019.

But this intervention will not have been welcomed by the prime minister, who has spent months carefully planning this unprecedented second state visit so as to most effectively woo Trump.

Starmer is trying desperately to keep a lid on all of the contentious issues which could cause the state visit to implode – including references to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – but it remains to be seen how much will actually go to plan.