London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said he is open to meeting Donald Trump, even after the US President called him “a nasty person.”
The Mayor, who has long criticized Trump’s rhetoric, admitted the insults were hurtful but insisted that dialogue is more important.
Trump, while visiting Scotland, accused Khan of doing “a terrible job” as Mayor of London.
However, Khan dismissed the comments, saying they were “water off a duck’s back,” adding that the experience felt like “being nine years old again in the school playground.”
Speaking at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Khan told comedian Matt Forde that the President’s remarks reflect a deeper problem.
“Somebody who has views like he does about black people, about women, about gays, about Muslims, about Mexicans, thinks I’m nasty. Really.
He is the leader of the free world, arguably the most powerful man in the world, and really.”
The Labour politician expressed fear that Trump’s statements may normalize dangerous views.
“When President Trump says some of the things he does, it brings from the periphery to the mainstream, views that are potentially dangerous. He inadvertently – I’m not going to suggest he does it deliberately – he inadvertently could be radicalising people with views that could lead to them doing things that are dangerous.”
Moreover, Khan warned that minorities might face unfair treatment because of the President’s words.
He accused Trump of “using London and our diversity as a political football, as a proxy for a culture war.”
Despite the insults, Khan highlighted London’s multicultural identity as a strength.
He said, “I think it makes us stronger not weaker, richer not poorer.”
He emphasized that London’s diversity is not a weakness but something that defines the city’s resilience.
In addition, he pointed out that many Americans have moved to London since Trump’s second term began in January.
“So I think Americans have got good taste by and large,” the Mayor said, drawing applause from the audience.
Although deeply critical of Trump’s leadership, Khan maintained that he would welcome a meeting.
“On a personal level, it is water off a duck’s back, but we can’t run away from the fact that there are some really serious challenges we face as a western society and President Trump, in my view, isn’t a force for good.”
He added, “What I would want President Trump to know is that it is possible to be proud to be a westerner and proud to be Muslim, that it is possible to be British, and proud to be British, and be of Pakistani origin and be a law-abiding citizen and we aren’t three headed monsters.”
Khan further said Trump may have “formed a view of Muslims because of the actions of a small minority of really bad people who are terrorists and use Islam in a perverted way.”
He stressed, “That is a very small fraction of Muslims across the globe. So if there was an opportunity to meet President Trump, I would be more than happy to do so.”
