During a joint press conference in Scotland, former US President Donald Trump described London Mayor Sadiq Khan as a “nasty person” who has done a “terrible job,” reigniting a long-running feud amid ongoing debates over Khan’s leadership of the capital.
US President Donald Trump has once again launched a withering attack on London Mayor Sadiq Khan, describing him as a “nasty person” who has done a “terrible job” running the capital. The remarks were made during a joint press conference in Scotland with UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, where Trump was asked about plans to visit London on an upcoming state visit. “I’m not a fan of your mayor,” Trump stated bluntly, reigniting long-standing tensions between the two figures, which have featured public criticism from both sides over the years.
Sir Keir Starmer, standing by his close ally, defended Khan as “a good friend of mine,” and the UK Prime Minister also expressed support, calling Khan “a friend of mine.” Nonetheless, Trump remained critical, emphasising his dissatisfaction with Khan’s tenure but saying he would visit London nonetheless. Khan’s office responded by pointing to the city’s celebrated diversity and intellectual capital, highlighting a record number of Americans applying for British citizenship under Trump’s presidency as a marker of the city’s international appeal despite political discord.
The feud between Trump and Khan has a lengthy backdrop, with the former president also previously accusing Khan of incompetence, particularly in relation to rising knife crime in London. Concerns over Khan’s performance have been echoed by some British politicians voicing frustration at the capital’s escalating crime rates, housing shortages, and rising taxation under his administration. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp notably criticised the decision to award Khan a knighthood earlier this year, calling it a “reward for failure,” and leading to a petition garnering over 220,000 signatures opposing the honour. The petition cited divisions in the city, stagnant growth, and Khan’s perceived deflection of responsibility.
Trump’s critique also included a sharp defence of his own record, pushing back against Khan’s previous comments about his golfing during natural disasters, and accusing Khan of over-focusing on London’s knife crime issue while being a “terrible mayor who should stay out of our business.” These exchanges reflect the deeply personal and political nature of their longstanding antagonism, which continues to resonate in UK and transatlantic political discourse.
As the debate unfolds, it encapsulates broader tensions in the management and portrayal of London amidst national and international scrutiny, alongside the polarised views on leadership effectiveness in one of the world’s most high-profile cities.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2088189/poll-donald-trump-sadiq-khan-london-mayor – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/donald-trump-feud-sadiq-khan-london-mayor-nasty-b1240376.html – US President Donald Trump reignited his feud with London Mayor Sadiq Khan, calling him a ‘nasty person’ and criticising his tenure as mayor. During a press conference with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland, Trump stated, ‘I’m not a fan of your mayor. I think he’s done a terrible job, the Mayor of London… a nasty person.’ Starmer defended Khan, describing him as ‘a good friend of mine.’ This exchange highlights the ongoing tensions between Trump and Khan, which have been marked by mutual criticism over the years.
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/donald-trump-blasts-sadiq-khan-as-incompetent-as-he-hits-back-at-london-mayor-over-golf-criticism-a4228121.html – President Donald Trump criticised London Mayor Sadiq Khan as ‘incompetent’ in response to Khan’s remarks about Trump’s golfing during Hurricane Dorian. Trump defended his golfing, stating, ‘Many Pols exercise for hours, or travel for weeks. Me, I run through one of my courses (very inexpensive).’ He also accused Khan of focusing on ‘knife crime’ in London, calling him a ‘terrible mayor who should stay out of our business.’ This exchange underscores the ongoing tensions between the two leaders.
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/donald-trump-reignites-feud-with-sadiq-khan-as-he-calls-london-mayor-a-nasty-person-a4228121.html – US President Donald Trump reignited his feud with London Mayor Sadiq Khan, calling him a ‘nasty person’ and criticising his tenure as mayor. During a press conference with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland, Trump stated, ‘I’m not a fan of your mayor. I think he’s done a terrible job, the Mayor of London… a nasty person.’ Starmer defended Khan, describing him as ‘a good friend of mine.’ This exchange highlights the ongoing tensions between Trump and Khan, which have been marked by mutual criticism over the years.
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/donald-trump-blasts-sadiq-khan-as-incompetent-as-he-hits-back-at-london-mayor-over-golf-criticism-a4228121.html – President Donald Trump criticised London Mayor Sadiq Khan as ‘incompetent’ in response to Khan’s remarks about Trump’s golfing during Hurricane Dorian. Trump defended his golfing, stating, ‘Many Pols exercise for hours, or travel for weeks. Me, I run through one of my courses (very inexpensive).’ He also accused Khan of focusing on ‘knife crime’ in London, calling him a ‘terrible mayor who should stay out of our business.’ This exchange underscores the ongoing tensions between the two leaders.
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/donald-trump-reignites-feud-with-sadiq-khan-as-he-calls-london-mayor-a-nasty-person-a4228121.html – US President Donald Trump reignited his feud with London Mayor Sadiq Khan, calling him a ‘nasty person’ and criticising his tenure as mayor. During a press conference with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland, Trump stated, ‘I’m not a fan of your mayor. I think he’s done a terrible job, the Mayor of London… a nasty person.’ Starmer defended Khan, describing him as ‘a good friend of mine.’ This exchange highlights the ongoing tensions between Trump and Khan, which have been marked by mutual criticism over the years.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being July 29, 2025. The Express article is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative has not appeared elsewhere more than 7 days earlier. The article includes updated data but does not recycle older material.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from President Trump and Mayor Khan are unique to this narrative, with no identical matches found in earlier material. No variations in quote wording were noted. This suggests the content is potentially original or exclusive.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Express, a reputable UK news outlet. However, the Express has faced criticism for sensationalism in the past, which slightly lowers the reliability score.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims made in the narrative are plausible and align with known tensions between President Trump and Mayor Khan. The language and tone are consistent with typical political reporting. No excessive or off-topic details are present. The narrative lacks specific factual anchors, such as exact dates and times of the press conference, which slightly reduces the score.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, original, and plausible, with no significant issues identified. The Express is a reputable source, and the content aligns with known events and tensions. Minor concerns include the lack of specific factual anchors and the Express’s past criticisms, but these do not significantly impact the overall assessment.
