London’s Muslim Mayor Sadiq Khan Says He Doesn’t Want Any Favors From ‘Ignorant’ Donald Trump

While Donald Trump is still doing his darndest to impress voters in America, many people outside of the United States have already made up their minds about the billionaire candidate. Among those who have formed a negative impression of the GOP frontrunner is London’s newly elected mayor, Sadiq Khan. Donald Trump recently said he would make an exception for Khan regarding Trump’s proposed ban on Muslims entering the country, but the London mayor – himself a practitioner of Islam – said he will pass on the offer.

As previously noted by U.K.-based news outlet The Telegraph, Trump previously expressed some degree of optimism over news that London had elected its first Muslim mayor in Sadiq Khan. Donald Trump told the New York Times that he felt that Kahn could make important changes in his job if he leads his constituents in a positive direction.

“I think it’s a very good thing, and I hope he does a very good job because, frankly, that would be very, very good, Trump said about Sadiq Khan’s election. “Because I think if he does a great job, it will really – you lead by example, always lead by example. If he does a good job, and frankly if he does a great job, that would be a terrific thing.”

But the overture did not flatter London’s new mayor, who has previously expressed concern regarding the anti-Muslim rhetoric employed by Donald Trump. Sadiq Khan recently addressed Trump via Twitter.

Trump’s ignorant view of Islam could make both our countries less safe. It risks alienating mainstream Muslims. London has proved him wrong

— Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) May 10, 2016

According to The Guardian, Sadiq Khan later rejected Trump’s rhetorical quasi-invitation altogether. He was joined in his dismissal of the popular Republican candidate by his fellow European mayor Anne Hidalgo. Hidalgo, the current mayor of Paris, France, slammed Trump during a public meeting with Khan in London on May 10.

“Mr. Trump is so stupid, my God, my God,” said Anne Hidalgo. Hidalgo’s home city of Paris was the scene of a series of terrorist attacks on November 2015. One hundred thirty people were killed and hundreds more were wounded in a number of shootings and bombings carried out by adherents of political Islam.

For his part, Sadiq Khan took the opportunity to show his meeting with Anne Hidalgo as one of the better examples of people from different backgrounds and faiths coming together to make the world a better place. He addressed Donald Trump specifically in his comments.

“Our message to Donald Trump is: this is how you work together; this is the best of humanity; this is the best of the west,” Khan said. “What’s really important is the similarities Paris and London have; they are the most diverse cities in the world. This is an example of the best of our cities – men, women, Muslims, Christians, mayors working together to work for our cities, solving the housing crisis, fixing the air quality, addressing the challenges of integration and making sure our cities are safe.”

Late last year, Trump infamously asserted that Muslims should be banned from entering the United States, as reported by CNN. Although a number of leaders within the country and abroad condemned the idea, the ensuing controversy became a watershed moment for Donald Trump. Sadiq Khan, who was a Member of Parliament at the time, called Trump’s proposal “divisive and outrageous.” It would appear his opinion has not changed much at all since then.

[Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images]