London Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged the British government to call off Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to the UK.
The President of the United States leapt two-footed into a war of words with Khan at the weekend, when he criticised Khan’s statement that there was “no reason to be alarmed” by the increased police presence on the streets of London following Saturday night’s terror attack.
Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his "no reason to be alarmed" statement. MSM is working hard to sell it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2017
That's right, we need a TRAVEL BAN for certain DANGEROUS countries, not some politically correct term that won't help us protect our people!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 6, 2017
Khan initially refused to engage with Trump, who was seemingly using Khan’s comments to push his own stance on immigration, but he has since come out and suggested that Trump’s planned state visit to the UK should no longer take place given his argumentative response to the London mayor.
“I don’t think we should roll out the red carpet to the president of the USA in the circumstances where his policies go against everything we stand for,” Khan said on Channel 4 News on Monday night.
“When you have a special relationship it is no different from when you have got a close mate. You stand with them in times of adversity but you call them out when they are wrong. There are many things about which Donald Trump is wrong.”
Khan’s integrity in the face of Trump’s behaviour has been lauded by his peers in Britain, with Lib Dem leader Tim Farron saying that “Sadiq Khan has shown dignity and leadership. Theresa May absolutely must withdraw the state visit. This is a man insulting our national values at a time of introspection and mourning.”
MP David Lammy also agreed that Trump’s state visit should be called off, as he responded to Trump’s post with the below message.
You are truly beneath contempt. You are just a troll. Show some bottle please PM. Cancel the state visit and tell Trump where to get off. https://t.co/8gyqbHt0rM
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) June 5, 2017
Harry Potter author, J.K. Rowling, has given her take on the impending arrival of Trump and it comes as no surprise that her matchless creativity has resulted in a brilliant suggestion for how it should be dealt with by the British public.
Rather than crafting placards, I think we should enlarge Trump's London tweets so they're on camera everywhere he goes to 'show support.' https://t.co/BvpdfBzSiA
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2017
I'd rather he didn't come, but if he does, I'd like his vile Tweets juxtaposed against whatever he's been coaxed to read off an autocue. https://t.co/mZvAWZ21BM
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2017