'More than happy': Sadiq Khan expresses willingness to meet Trump; London mayor unshaken by US leader's 'nasty person' jibe
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he is willing to meet US President
Donald Trump
and would be 'more than happy to meet' him, even as he warned that Trump's words could 'inadvertently radicalize people' and that he is 'not a force for good.'
The Labour politician dismissed Trump's recent personal attacks, made during the US President's visit to Scotland, in which Trump called Khan 'a nasty person' who had 'done a terrible job.' Khan described such comments as 'water off a duck's back'.
However, speaking at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he admitted that the exchanges sometimes made him feel 'nine years old again' and like he was 'in the school playground,' as reported by the Independent.
During the event, Khan had criticised Trump's views on women, black people, LGBTQ+ individuals, Muslims and Mexicans.
'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.'
Khan highlighted that since Trump began his second term in January, record numbers of Americans have applied for British citizenship and moved to London.
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'So I think Americans have got good taste by and large,' he said.
He hoped that Trump would visit London during his upcoming state visit to the UK, emphasizing that the city's diversity is a 'strength, not a weakness.' Speaking about diversity, he added, 'I think it makes us stronger not weaker, richer not poorer."
The London mayor warned that President Trump's words can push extreme views into the mainstream and become potentially dangerous.
He may unintentionally radicalize people, prompting harmful actions.
Khan also highlighted that minorities in London could face discrimination because of the Trump's statements. He accused US President of 'using London and our diversity as a political football, as a proxy for a culture war.'
Despite his criticisms, Khan said he would be 'more than happy to meet President Trump'.
The Labour politician said, 'I suspect President 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.
'What I would want President Trump to know is 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.'
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