Sadiq Khan has taken to the august pages of the Guardian today to vent about the US President, just hours after Donald Trump touched down in Britain. London’s Mayor fumed about Trump’s tariffs and the US president’s criticism of the capital, before launching into a rant on how ‘President Donald Trump and his coterie have perhaps done the most to fan the flames of divisive, far-right politics around the world’. Crikey!
Khan continues:
Six years later, the tactics we see from today’s White House seem no different. Scapegoating minorities, illegally deporting US citizens, deploying the military to the streets of diverse cities. These actions aren’t just inconsistent with western values – they’re straight out of the autocrat’s playbook.
Talk about pulling no punches!
Khan adds a warning to Keir Starmer who, amid the Peter Mandelson mess, will be hoping to retain friendly relations with the president:
I understand the UK government’s position of being pragmatic on the international stage and wanting to maintain a good relationship with the leader of the most powerful country in the world… But it’s also important to ensure our special relationship includes being open and honest with each other. At times, this means being a critical friend and speaking truth to power… We must also tell President Trump and his supporters to stop talking down and denigrating our great capital city.
That would certainly make his job easier, eh? Though Mr S can’t imagine Starmer will be thanking his mayor for the rather, er, punchy intervention…
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