London mayor Sadiq Khan has accused US President Donald Trump of attacking the capital out of envy, saying repeated criticism reflects jealousy rather than concern about public safety or governance…reports Asian Lite News
Sadiq Khan has said Donald Trump’s attacks on London stem from jealousy that the United States has no city that can rival Britain’s capital. In an interview, the mayor suggested that Trump’s repeated criticism of London reflected professional envy rather than any legitimate concern about crime, transport or governance in the city.
“I think some of this may be a President who’s jealous he hasn’t got any global cities in the US that can compete with London,” Khan said. While acknowledging New York’s status, he added that it was “probably the second greatest city in the world,” placing London firmly at the top of the global hierarchy in his view.
Khan also challenged Trump on transport infrastructure, inviting a direct comparison between American and British urban investment. “I’d be happy to compare Trump’s favourite city’s subway with our Elizabeth Line,” he said, referring to London’s flagship east–west rail project. The comment was the latest in a series of pointed exchanges between the Labour mayor and the Republican president, whose relationship has been marked by hostility since Khan took office in 2016.
Trump recently launched a fresh personal attack on the mayor, describing him as “an incompetent mayor” and “a horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor.” He added: “I think he’s done a terrible job. London’s a different place.” The remarks echoed comments Trump has made in previous years, when he claimed London had become unsafe and alleged that parts of the city were “no-go zones” for police.
Khan responded by questioning whether Trump had developed an unhealthy fixation with London. He said the US president’s portrayal of the capital bore little resemblance to reality and ignored evidence about crime levels and public safety. The mayor has repeatedly rejected claims that London is uniquely dangerous, arguing that such rhetoric feeds fear and division rather than informed debate.
The dispute has not been confined to Trump alone. In 2024, Trump’s vice-president, JD Vance, claimed London was turning into “an Islamist country”, remarks that were widely criticised in the UK. Khan said such language was irresponsible and misleading, and accused senior US politicians of using London as a symbol in broader cultural and political battles.
Defending the capital’s record, Khan pointed to comparative crime statistics. “There are far fewer homicides in London than in any state in the US, far fewer than in New York, LA or Chicago,” he said in comments to the Financial Times. He argued that London consistently performs better than major American cities on violent crime, despite its size and global profile.
Khan said the repeated attacks formed part of a wider culture war in which London had become a proxy target. He suggested that the city’s diversity and international outlook made it an easy focus for politicians seeking to mobilise support through polarising rhetoric. According to the mayor, such narratives had contributed to an increase in racist abuse and hostility directed at Londoners.
While Khan said he was unsurprised by criticism from Trump, he expressed greater disappointment with politicians at home who attack the capital. “I can see that they are worried about London’s success,” he said, referring to MPs who portray the city as out of touch or failing. He argued that domestic criticism was often driven by the same anxieties about change, diversity and economic power.
Khan described London as a city defined by its openness and success, qualities he said were resented by those opposed to progressive values. “That’s because we are a diverse, progressive, liberal and multicultural city that’s incredibly successful,” he said. “We’re the antithesis of all the stuff they talk about.” In his view, hostility towards London was less about policy failures and more about discomfort with what the city represents.
The mayor suggested that London’s role as a global financial, cultural and political hub made it a lightning rod for criticism from across the political spectrum. He said attacks on the capital often ignored its economic contribution to the UK and its position as one of the world’s most visited and influential cities.
Beyond his dispute with Trump, Khan also used the interview to address domestic policy debates, issuing a warning to Labour leader Keir Starmer over tax policy. He cautioned against measures that could drive wealthy individuals and investors away from London, arguing that such an outcome would damage the city and the wider UK economy.
“The idea that all non-doms are bogeymen is not my experience,” Khan said, referring to individuals with non-domiciled tax status. He defended their role in the capital’s economy, saying many contributed significantly through investment, job creation and philanthropy. Khan warned that overly punitive tax policies risked undermining London’s competitiveness at a time of global economic uncertainty.
The comments underline Khan’s effort to position London as both resilient and outward-looking in the face of political attacks from abroad and at home. As the war of words with Trump continues, the mayor has sought to frame the dispute not just as a personal clash, but as a broader argument about London’s place in the world and the values it represents.
