Donald Trump hits out at Sadiq Khan after day of bloodshed in London

Donald Trump lashed out at Sadiq Khan on Twitter after a spate of attacks
AFP/Getty Images
Megan White15 June 2019

Donald Trump has lashed out at Sadiq Khan on Twitter amid a spate of violence in the capital, labelling him a “disaster” and saying London needs a new mayor.

The US President took to social media after five attacks in 24 hours, leaving three dead and four injured.

Retweeting a post by right-wing commentator Katie Hopkins about the killings, the president said the capital needed a new mayor "ASAP".

Mr Trump tweeted: "LONDON needs a new mayor ASAP.

"Khan is a disaster - will only get worse!"

The original post by Hopkins called the capital "Stab-City" and "Khan's Londonistan" alongside two screenshots of BBC News articles detailing the violence.

She wrote: "20 hours in Stab-City UPDATE 2 stabbed to death 1 shot dead Three stabbed - but not dead. Wandsworth & Tower Hamlets This is Khan's Londonistan."

An 18-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Wandsworth on Friday afternoon, minutes before another 19-year-old man was fatally shot in Plumstead.

A police tent near to the scene in Wandsworth
PA

Just hours later, a man in his 30s was killed in Tower Hamlets, east London, before another was stabbed in the chest in Edmonton.

Three men were also stabbed in a separate attack in Clapham during a weekend of violence in the capital.

The Metropolitan Police said 14 people - including several boys and a girl - have been arrested in connection with the incidents in Wandsworth, Plumstead and Clapham.

The US president and London mayor have clashed in the past, including on Mr Trump's state visit at the start of June.

Flowers and medical equipment left near to the scene in Wandsworth
PA

The pair's ongoing feud was sparked in 2016 when Mr Trump challenged Mr Khan to an IQ test after saying his views on Islam were "ignorant".

Before the president's arrival, Mr Khan compared the language used by Mr Trump to that of the “fascists of the 20th century” and later added that Britain should not be “rolling out the red carpet” for him.

In June 2017, the pair clashed again when the US President called Khan's response to the London Bridge terror attack "pathetic".

Mr Trump branded the mayor a "stone cold loser" in a two-part tweet as he touched down in Britain on June 3.

Donald Trump's state visit to the UK: June 2019 - In pictures

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The Labour mayor then accused the president of "playground behaviour" and claimed he was a "poster boy" for the far-right.

In response to Donald Trump's tweet, a spokesman for Sadiq Khan said the mayor was "focusing on supporting London's communities" following the 24 hours of violence.

The spokesman said: "Sadiq is focusing on supporting London's communities & over-stretched emergency services.

"He has been in regular touch with senior Met police officers last night and throughout the day.

"His thoughts are with the victims' families. He is not going to waste his time responding to this sort of tweet."

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