SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

London mayor welcomes Trump's decision to cancel visit

Mayor Sadiq Khan says Londoners are opposed to Donald Trump's policies and would have protested during his visit.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Londoners made it clear that Donald Trump is not welcome there.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Londoners made it clear that Donald Trump is not welcome there. Source: EPA

3 min read

Published

Updated


Skip to article content

Donald Trump has "got the message" that many Londoners are staunchly opposed to his policies and actions, mayor Sadiq Khan said.

The London mayor - who has clashed with the president in the past - said a visit by Trump would have been met by "mass peaceful protests".

The US president confirmed on Twitter that he would not visit the UK to cut the ribbon on the new US embassy building in south London.

Trump said he thought the embassy's move from Grosvenor Square in Mayfair to Nine Elms, south of the Thames, was a "bad deal" and the building was in an "off location".

"(The) reason I cancelled my trip to London is that I am not a big fan of the Obama Administration having sold perhaps the best located and finest embassy in London for "peanuts," only to build a new one in an off location for 1.2 billion dollars," Trump said in a tweet late on Thursday.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"Bad deal. Wanted me to cut ribbon-NO!"

But the prospect of demonstrations against his appearance could also have been a factor in the president's decision to cancel the visit, Khan said.

"It appears that President Trump got the message from the many Londoners who love and admire America and Americans but find his policies and actions the polar opposite of our city's values of inclusion, diversity and tolerance.

"His visit next month would without doubt have been met by mass peaceful protests.

"This just reinforces what a mistake it was for Theresa May to rush and extend an invitation of a state visit in the first place.

"Let's hope that Donald Trump also revisits the pursuit of his divisive agenda."

Khan, who has led opposition to the prospect of a visit by the US president, had a row with Mr Trump over the response to the London Bridge terror attack last June.

President Trump fired off a series of critical tweets over Khan's handling of the attack, mocking the mayor's comments that there was "no reason to be alarmed" over armed police on the streets.

The row between Trump and Khan saw the US president dismiss criticism of his original post on the subject by redoubling his attack, accusing Mr Khan of making a "pathetic excuse".


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world